LEADER BOARD Empowering Public Education Leaders THE 21ST CENTURY SCHOOL DISTRICT How the roles of school board members have changed and what you need to know to adapt. VOL. 1 ISSUE 2 | SPRING 2015 2014-2015 Board of Directors Donald Hubler, President Region 8, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools/Macomb ISD TABLE OF CONTENTS Cindy Gansen, President-Elect Region 5, Genesee ISD Brenda Carter, Vice President Region 8, Pontiac School District Ruth Coppens, Past President Region 4, Saginaw ISD 9 |DISTRICT Brad Baltensperger SPOTLIGHT Region 1, Houghton-Portage Township 18-21 | DON’T BE AFRAID OF CHANGE Schools Waverly Community Schools Annie Carter TWO-YEAR BOARD MEMBER DEWAYN Group VII, Detroit Public Schools ALLEN SHARES HIS EXPERIENCES AND Tim Detwiler Region 3, Northview Public Schools PERSPECTIVES ON SCHOOL BOARDS IN THE Jill Fennessy ST Region 3, Tri County Area Schools 21 CENTURY Lillian Fields Region 7, Jackson County ISD Janice Holz 10-11 | YOU CAN NEVER COMMUNICATE TOO MUCH Region 5, Huron ISD Stephen J. Hyer Group V, Clarkston Community Schools 12-13 | POINT/COUNTERPOINT Mary Jason 14-17 | Bring Meeting Requirement Into Region 2, Charlevoix-Emmet ISD EVOLUTION the 21st Century Mark McKulsky How One Board Member Refused to Face-to-Face Necessary for Votes Region 2, Iosco RESA and Quorums Gregory Peoples be Left Behind in the Ever-Changing Region 7, Washtenaw ISD Educational Landscape 22-23 | FIVE TIMELESS TOOLS TO SUPPORT Renny Ransbottom Region 6, Otsego Public Schools GOOD GOVERNANCE Michael J. Rochholz Region 6, Schoolcraft Community Schools 24-25 | THEN AND NOW Paula Saari How the Work of School Boards has Region 1, Marquette-Alger RESA Changed Over the Years Matthew Showalter Region 4, Shepherd Public Schools 28-29 | TIME AND MONEY SAVERS Peter Spadafore Recommendations For Your District Group VI, Lansing School District LeaderBoard (ISSN 2376-3930) is published three times a year by the Michigan Association of School Boards, 1001 Centennial Way, Ste. 400, Lansing, MI 48917, 517.327.5900, www.masb.org, membership@ masb.org. The publication is mailed to MASB member school boards and superintendents as part of the district’s membership. The subscription rate for each 5 | EXECUTIVE NOTE 30 | THE VALUE OF MEMBERSHIP MASB nonmember is $21/year. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional mailing offices. 7 | PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 31 | WHAT ARE OUR STANDARDS? POSTMASTER send address changes to: Michigan Association of School Boards 1001 Centennial Way, Ste. 400 8 | ASK BRAD: SCHOOL LAW Q/A 33 | NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Lansing, MI 48917 Articles submitted to LeaderBoard are edited 26 | TECH CORNER 34 | MASB CROSSWORD for style, content and space prior to publication. Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent MASB policies or positions. 27 | EVENT CALENDAR Articles may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Endorsement by MASB of products and services advertised in LeaderBoard is not implied or expressed. To learn more about MASB’s advertising and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lisa Powers at 517.327.5935 or via email at [email protected]. MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION of SCHOOL BOARDS | LEADERBOARD SPRING 2015 3 EXECUTIVE NOTE THE FUTURE OF SCHOOL BOARDS By Kathy Hayes In my past role as a facilitator for research, we’ve been able to zero knowledgeable about learning In these ever-changing times, board workshops, I remember in on teaching and learning methods and curriculum. I challenge all of us to be working with a school board that practices that get results. We Although passion for students transformational leaders who spent 45 minutes of their board also have been able to identify and dedication to the district look beyond the status quo and meeting trying to decide what those characteristics of boards are important qualities for govern districts by making kind of truck to buy for their of education that have proven to board members to possess, it has student achievement your #1 maintenance department. I’m not be effective in increasing student become paramount that they are priority. Don’t just be observers suggesting that it’s not important achievement. also informed about educational to arm the district’s maintenance practices that assist them in of educational reform…be at the department with adequate and Rather than spending time at decision-making that leads to center of it. No center of power safe equipment, but is this really the board table discussing items improved student achievement. is better positioned than school the kind of issue a board of like what kind of truck to buy boards to provide the leadership education should be spending its for the maintenance department The school board of 20 years ago that is necessary to serve as precious meeting time on? or why the grass hadn’t been cut is not the school board we need guardians of our children’s that week, successful boards that today. To meet future challenges education. You have the ability Today, more than ever, there is influence achievement results for which it was not designed, to really make a difference. I an urgent call for public schools in their districts spend quality boards will have to adapt or know you’ll agree we owe it to to ensure that all students time discussing research data, transform with flexibility, are college and career ready district goals, measurements of innovation and openness. our children and to their future and prepared to be successful progress, technology and other Boards must see themselves as success. citizens. There has been no instructional practices that change agents and reform leaders other time in public education relate to the ability of schools to who govern beyond the status where there has been such a successfully educate students. quo because hanging onto the Kathy Hayes is MASB’s Executive single-minded emphasis on status quo will put us at risk of Director, and can be reached at accountability, reform and These kinds of discussions becoming increasingly irrelevant. [email protected] or 517.327.5900. results. The good news is that require board members The world demands it and our over time, through extensive to be fully engaged and children are counting on us. MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION of SCHOOL BOARDS | LEADERBOARD SPRING 2015 5 bringing energy to the classroom consumers energy is here to help, with energy efficiency rebates and new energy solutions to help michigan’s education community thrive. • Our energy efficiency programs are targeted for educational institutions and cover lighting, HVAC, boiler upgrades and more • We offer safety education programs in schools, and our employees are volunteers and members of local PTAs and school boards Call us for more information at (800) 805-0490, or visit consumersenergy.com/businessmatters B7032 6 SPRING 2015 MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION of SCHOOL BOARDS | LEADERBOARD PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE NEW CHALLENGES IN GOVERNING IN A 21ST CENTURY SCHOOL DISTRICT By Don Hubler, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools/Macomb ISD THE VALUE OF LEADERSHIP build relationships with staff, Kathy’s approach has helped volume of concerns and the The challenges that face our shape clear plans, communicate in numerous ways. The time frame for reaction that school districts seem to hit expectations and create an Association is not led by wishful make the impact of leadership us so fast and from so many atmosphere of trust. thinking, which is often the trap so critical to the future of our of just believing things will get schools in Michigan. directions that we often feel The Michigan Association of there is not enough time to better. Staff has the confidence School Boards has had the that real information, good MASB has been fortunate to catch our breath. Remember the benefit of being led by such be led by someone who is the time when a five-year strategic or bad, will not belong to the a leader. Kathy Hayes, who messenger, it will be used to example of leadership at its best. plan was hopefully visited on an will be leaving MASB this annual basis for updating? help evaluate the best course of year, with the support of the action. Consistency of vision, Thank you, Kathy. Good leadership today requires Board of Directors, has built clarity of expectation and a faster response to numerous an Association that identifies the modeling of the highest concerns, from legislative action concerns and responds to personal level of service support Don Hubler is MASB’s 2014-2015 to items that impact the budget, member needs with the clear the best outcomes in this new President, and can be reached at from media contact to student expectation of service that is environment. [email protected]. issues. This all comes at a time communicated consistently to when we have reduced staff and staff. Service to the Association In many ways good school have fewer resources to evaluate members is the filter that is used governance has not changed. and respond. to evaluate and plan, and is the Trust, communication and a foundation of our goals. focus on service are still our This is where our best leaders key guiding principles. It is the MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION of SCHOOL BOARDS | LEADERBOARD SPRING 2015 7 ASK BRAD: YOUR SCHOOL LAW QUESTIONS ANSWERED By Brad Banasik, J.D. EACH ISSUE OF MASB’S LEADERBOARD WILL FEATURE HYPOTHETICAL SCHOOL LAW QUESTIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE QUESTIONS THAT THE MASB LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECEIVES FROM MEMBERS. THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION AND ENHANCE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF SCHOOL LAW ISSUES BY EXPLAINING HOW LAWS OR COURT CASES APPLY TO GIVEN SITUATIONS. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED IN A FUTURE ISSUE, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO [email protected].