Resources to Support and Celebrate School Board Members’ First Year

The Illinois Association of School Boards thanks the dedicated education advocates who volunteer their time and effort to public education for the children of Illinois. This April marks the first-year anniversary for many school board members elected and appointed during the 2023 consolidated election.

IASB supports districts with the ongoing work of orienting new members. Courses are available to satisfy state-mandated training requirements for new school board members. A New Board Member Roadmap to Success describes services and training opportunities and serves as a guide through the first year in office.

The Association continues to offer services and support to school board members as they move forward in their role as school leaders. This includes

• In-district training and governance best practices
• Support for the board’s policy-making role
• Educational webinars on topics ranging from finance to governance to policy and equity
• Reference books to enhance one’s understanding about board meetings, how schools are funded, and answers to common legal questions
• Conference, trainings, and events bringing together public education experts and high-performing school leadership teams to share knowledge

IASB staff is 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.