IASB In-District Workshop:
Starting Right

New members want to make an impact but don’t yet know how.  Veteran board members can guide them by sharing the board’s practices and procedures. IASB can help by facilitating a Starting Right workshop. Starting Right, a type of board self-evaluation, begins with a review of the board’s role in effective governance and continues with a discussion of the board expectations for communications, board superintendent relationships, board meetings, and much more. To become a high-performing team, each board must address the needs of new board members and the development of the “new” governance team. You may also wish to schedule a Starting Right workshop with your new superintendent as many boards find value in discussing the expectations of all parties in this crucial relationship.

Starting Right is a type of board self-evaluation. The Illinois Open Meetings Act allows boards to meet in closed session for the purpose of board self-evaluation “when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public body is member.” 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(16).