Resources for Newly Elected School Board Members Available 

With the 2023 consolidated election over, school boards should be planning their next meeting and thinking about the new members who will be joining the board team. As required by state law, school boards must hold an organizational meeting to seat new members, administer the Oath of Office, elect officers, and set a time and place for regular board meetings. The deadline for school boards to reorganize is Monday, May 15. 

To assist with the post-election requirements, IASB offers a free pamphlet, “Organizing the Board.” The nine-page resource includes descriptions of legal requirements and procedures to ensure a smooth and efficient process as school boards reorganize. 

Also available is “Orientation: Building the Board Team.” Developed by IASB staff, the publication is intended to help school boards orient newly elected or appointed members to their position on a board of education. Two sample agendas are included, along with accompanying materials to aid boards as they work through the orientation process. 

In addition to written materials, IASB will host livestream events on April 6 and 13 to welcome new members, introduce the New Board Member Roadmap to Success and describe services and training opportunities available to Association members. The New Board Member Roadmap is designed to guide new board members through the first year in office. 

Courses that satisfy the state-mandated training requirements for school board members can be completed online through IASB’s New Board Member Training Bundle. The training includes The Basics of Governance, Open Meetings Act (OMA) Training, and Professional Development Leadership Training (PDLT) and Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) Training. The PDLT and PERA course includes new training on trauma-informed practices as required by state law in 2023.  

To help navigate the learning curve, IASB is offering special pricing on a New Board Member Book Package that includes three top-selling titles. Coming to Order explains how to plan and conduct board meetings, the Illinois School Law Survey is a guide that includes answers to more than 1,600 school legal questions, and Essentials of Illinois School Finance is an effective, easy-to-use reference for understanding school finance. 

IASB has made resources and training opportunities available on the New Board Member webpage to assist districts and newly elected board members as they move forward in their new roles. IASB staff are also available to support districts as they welcome new members and work to build a high-performing leadership team. Contact the IASB Springfield office at (217) 528-9688 or the Lombard office at (630) 629-3776 or submit a question using the IASB contact form on the New Board Member webpage.