Custom On-Site Workshops
Bring a customized, facilitated board learning workshop directly to your district. IASB® will work with your governance team to design a workshop just for you, based on your board development goals and district needs. Popular topics are below, but each workshop emphasizes application to your specific situation. Most workshops are two to four hours and can be scheduled on weekdays or weekday evenings at your convenience.| Workshop Length | In Person | |
| 1 hour | $500 | |
| 2 hours | $650 | |
| 3 hours | $800 | |
| 4 hours | $950 | |
| 5 hours+ | Contact IASB |
Note: Fees vary based on the length of the workshop. Costs cover time spent developing the resources and materials for your board-superintendent team. IASB does not charge members for staff travel expenses. In rare instances,
a topic of increased complexity could merit an increased fee for the additional time invested in preparation. Any potential increase beyond the rates listed would be discussed with the member district and agreed upon in advance of the workshop.
Partner with a neighbor: IASB can also design workshops for multiple boards wishing to learn together. Invite a neighboring district or two to take part with your board.
Call IASB to schedule a workshop. Facilitators vary based on the topic. Start by emailing our Board Development Team.
Annual Board Awards hours (based on the workshop length) are awarded to participants in workshops facilitated by IASB staff.
Workshop Topics
Establishing a Strong Foundation: If your superintendent is new to your district, IASB can help your team establish the foundation for a strong working relationship. An IASB facilitator will work with your board and superintendent to develop
a customized workshop to help your team set the stage for a successful school year. Popular topics for this
workshop include areas such as: board-superintendent communications, operating practices, roles and
responsibilities, expectations, or goals.
In this custom session, an IASB facilitator helps the board-superintendent team identify and discuss the different roles and responsibilities of school board members and the superintendent. The IASB facilitator will provide information and research on effective practices to enhance the discussions. The board-superintendent team uses these insights to build a strong, shared understanding of how each governance team member contributes to the district through their appropriate role.
This experience will support the board-superintendent team as they come together to set the strategic direction for the district. This workshop may include district administrative staff and will focus on developing or reaffirming long-term goals and priority areas of work for the district to pursue over the next three to five years. Emphasis will also include the board's governance roles in supporting, monitoring, and fostering collective will to mobilize support for the newly established district goals.
Is your team interested in enhancing the superintendent evaluation process?
In this customized board workshop, an IASB facilitator will lead your team’s learning and discussion on key areas of superintendent evaluation including legal requirements, the state’s standards for school leaders, tools/practical tips, and effective practices.
In this customized board workshop, an IASB facilitator will lead your team’s learning and discussion on key areas of superintendent evaluation including legal requirements, the state’s standards for school leaders, tools/practical tips, and effective practices.
Board-superintendent teams looking to strengthen their focus on student learning at the board table would benefit from this workshop. Participants can select entry points such as, data study, student learning goals, or understanding and supporting key initiatives. An IASB facilitator will consult with your district’s board leadership and superintendent to determine an effective starting place. These workshops are developed based on effective practices for board teams influenced by IASB’s groundbreaking Lighthouse Research and other studies on school board leadership.
This workshop series is an intensive five-session commitment for the whole governance team to strengthen their role for improved teaching and student learning. Research shows that school boards who are well-informed with a strong belief system can positively influence student learning in their districts. Studies by IASB and other organizations have identified important leadership and policy level roles for the school board in improving student learning. IASB is partnering with local board-superintendent teams to support their efforts in this work through this in-depth workshop series.
Governance teams are most effective when they foster a positive culture focused on improving instruction and student learning. An IASB facilitator will provide various self-assessment options and help the board identify the tool that best matches current needs.
This workshop is designed to assist boards whether they want to explore possibilities for sharing with nearby districts, or their district is already engaged in sharing with other districts. The focus is to identify common interests, goals, concerns and to develop specific techniques to help boards communicate and work together. These sessions can also be designed for boards engaging in reorganization discussions.
What is the board’s role in working with and guiding district staff? How does the board’s role compare to that of the superintendent? How can your board-superintendent team work from your respective roles to create a culture
of excellence and innovation that focuses the school community on student learning?
Sound written board policy clarifies the goals and intent of the board. In this custom session, an IASB consultant works with the board/administrative team to understand the board’s policy-making role, strengthen your policy development
and maintenance practices, identify policies most relevant to your district’s current goals and needs and ensure your policies align with state and federal laws.
An IASB staff member will facilitate a customized review of your district's financial condition, based on your own data and trends, and help the board-superintendent team consider appropriate oversight and decision points to address the district's financial condition. IASB staff will work with the board, either at a board meeting or a board work session, to help you understand your district's finances, free for the first consultation. IASB can also provide a free, half-day session one-on-one with a district's new superintendent or school business official to support these key administrators in gaining knowledge of Iowa school funding laws, processes, and the district's current financial condition.
To have a say in the legislative process, your board needs a voice. In this session, an IASB government relations staff member will work with your board to develop an advocacy action plan customized to your school district. Whether you want to focus on a specific issue or improve your overall advocacy skills, this workshop will help you maximize your efforts, both with legislators and your community. We can work on everything from how to develop and maintain good relationships with legislators to the specific impacts of proposed legislation on your district. These skills all start with a strong and usable advocacy action plan.
Contact
Iowa Association of School Boards®
6000 Grand Ave., Ste. A
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 288-1991
6000 Grand Ave., Ste. A
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 288-1991
© 2017–26 Iowa Association of School Boards®
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