2026 Strategic Areas of Focus
Association efforts to carry out its mission and engage members and member districts with IASB staff, programs, resources, and services are guided by the following board-approved strategic areas of focus for the 2026 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026):
In-District Touchpoints
Strengthening member relationships, increasing participation, and enhancing IASB’s overall impact.
- Division Meeting Participation: Refine outreach efforts to enhance participation in Division Meetings.
- Outreach to Unengaged Members: Strengthen relationships with unengaged members by implementing targeted outreach strategies that encourage participation in association activities and discussions.
- Broaden Online Communities to All Members: Foster a more inclusive and collaborative online environment by providing all members with access to IASB-hosted online communities. Develop a Membership-Driven Five-Year Strategic Plan: Create a unified vision and set of actionable strategies that focus efforts statewide on improving district governance and ultimately student outcomes.
Advocacy
Elevating member engagement toward advocacy to impact public K-12 education policy and legislation.
- Fortify local advocacy efforts: Target invitations to members to join Advocacy Ambassadors and local advocacy efforts.
- Enhance legislative engagement: Facilitate direct interactions between school board members and members of Congress, and the Illinois General Assembly.
- Delegate Assembly education & participation: Equip members with knowledge and tools to effectively designate delegates from their local boards to engage in Association-wide policy discussions and decision-making.
Technology-Driven Efficiency
Improve business operations by leveraging technology to increase efficiency, reduce manual work, enhance productivity, and drive informed decision-making.
- Optimize Technology Systems: Implement and optimize internal systems and software to improve operational efficiency.
- Enhance Technology Utilization: Equip staff with the necessary training and professional development to effectively integrate technology into association programs and services.
- Implement Data-Driven Decision Making: Implement and utilize analytics tools to collect, analyze, and report on member engagement to inform strategic decision-making.
The IASB Board of Directors meets quarterly to review progress on the above areas of focus, as well as other work to support IASB's mission and vision.
The IASB Annual Report offers a snapshot of the important work of the Association during the fiscal year, which ends on June 30 of each year. The report highlights the many efforts to serve IASB members, as guided by the strategic plan.