An important aspect of a school board’s collective responsibility is to maintain leadership, even as it experiences periodic turnover in its membership.

To create a culture of planning for succession, the board may want to ask and answer the following questions about district leadership:

• Who will continue the good work of our school board after our service has been completed?
• How can we ensure that our board’s good stewardship continues?
• Will quality candidates come forth on their own or do they need to be persuaded to run?

Many school boards already take this responsibility very seriously. They use written board policies to guide board practices. That would include policies that support thorough orientation and training for current and future members. Such policies would also support practices that nurture a positive and inviting board culture.

For school boards interested in cultivating their next generation of local leaders, the Illinois Association of School Boards has developed a publication, "Recruiting School Board Candidates," to help recruit prospective school board candidates. This material is intended to support an ongoing process of identifying, recruiting and mentoring future school board candidates, whether at the next election or during an appointment process.

Information in the packet includes:

• School Board Member Job Description
• Why School Board Members Serve
• Characteristics of an Effective School Board Member
• How to and Where to Find Qualified Candidates
• Talking with Potential Candidates
• School Board Election Timetable
• Additional Resources

This extensive packet of information is available free of charge to member districts and can be ordered by calling Tammy Call at 217-528-9688, ext. 1108. In addition, your IASB field services director is available to present this information to your board and/or community at your request.

Prepared leadership today will help to establish prepared leaders for tomorrow.

More Resources for School Boards