New Board Member Portal—Welcome on Board!

Congratulations on your election to your school board. All students in Iowa deserve excellence and equity when it comes to their education. The Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) is dedicated to that mission and to supporting the local school board members charged with governing and providing policy direction for the school districts serving those students.

What is IASB? IASB is a nonprofit membership organization governed by your locally elected peers across the state. We provide education, advocacy and services to more than 2,100 K-12, area education agency and community college board members across the state.

How can IASB help me? We believe that the actions of local school boards can have a profound impact on student achievement, and are dedicated to helping you take advantage of all we have to offer in order for you to be your best on the board. Your IASB staff team has created a host of resources you can use as a starting point as you learn about your new role. We are also planning conferences and other events full of valuable learning and networking opportunities.

If you have any questions, IASB is just a phone call away: (515) 288-1991.

Meet our Staff    Meet our Board

 

Check Out Key Resources to Hit the Ground Running

School Board Member Handbook—This essential handbook covers roles and responsibilities, leadership, student achievement, board meetings, superintendent relations, school finance and more.

Board Roles and Responsibilities Toolkit—Includes a guide to learning about the state of your district, traits of effective school boards, sample code of ethics, legal authority and more.

Standards for Effective School Boards—These standards are designed for use by local school boards as a common framework for excellence in school board governance.

The ABCs of Education: A Glossary of Terms for School Board Members—Decode acronyms and familiarize yourself with terms every school board member should know.

Tips for New Board Members—These tips, culled from the advice of experienced school board members, can help you make the most of your board service.

Reaping Social Media Benefits While Minimizing Pitfalls—Navigating the world of social media can be tricky—this advice can help steer you in the right direction!

School Finance Glossary of Terms—Get a crash course in school finance with our handy financial glossary terms PDF. 

Advocacy 101—Jump-start your advocacy efforts with our guide. Learn about the legislative process, advocacy techniques and tips on making your voice heard for public education.

2023 Public Policy Agenda—Learn IASB's legislative priorities to better focus your advocacy on policies that can help improve student achievement.

Introduce Yourself to Your Legislators—Use this sample email as a guide to introducing yourself to your legislators. Let them know you are on the school board and can serve as a resource throughout the year.

For team activities designed to orient new team members visit Orienting to Board Service.