IASB Book Helps New School Board Members be Effective in Their Role

A new edition of the book designed to help new school board members understand the basics of school board work has been published by the Illinois Association of School Boards.
 
Recognizing that newly elected or appointed board members need to quickly acquire an understanding of what the job entails, The Effective School Board Member provides an introduction to the work of boards of education in Illinois.
 
The book represents the work of IASB staff over the course of 40 years and 21 printings. Its first printing in 1981 was the result of a study by the Association on what new school board members need from the views of experienced school board members and superintendents. IASB staff revise and update the information to ensure that it remains an accurate review of the standards of performance endorsed by the Association.
 
Updates in 2021 cover monitoring district performance, communicating board decisions, and board process policies.
 
There are seven chapters:

• A Member of the Board of Education
• School Governance in Illinois
• The Local Board of Education
• Powers, Duties, and Effective Governance
• The School Board in Action
• Financing the Schools
• Collective Bargaining and the School Board

IASB includes a complimentary copy in a welcome packet mailed to newly elected school board members following the biennial elections.
 
The Effective School Board Member is available to purchase from the IASB Online Bookstore or by calling either (217) 528-9688 or (630) 629-3776. The price is $3 for IASB members. A $7 shipping fee is applied to each order, regardless of the quantity ordered.