Webinars: Board Governance

Are you approaching the end of your first year on a school board? This is the perfect time to reflect on your experience and what you can do to improve your governance skills to better serve the children in your school district. This webinar will discuss the characteristics of effective board members and will provide food for thought and resources to assist you in your personal professional development.

Though you may have just put away your beach umbrella, it’s time to start thinking about how to strengthen your board for the upcoming year, starting with your re-organization meeting.

This webinar will feature Field Service Representatives Gwen Thornton and Kathy Helewa who will talk about strategies to position your board for success in the new year, even if your board will experience significant turnover in membership. The discussion will focus on the tools and methods to establish and fortify board norms, how to ensure your board remains focused on the crucial goals of your district, and effectively communicating your board’s “why” to your stakeholders

Do you want to know what’s been happening at the State House over the last few months, and what may lie ahead? Join members of the NJSBA Governmental Relations staff to learn about the FY2023 state budget and various new education-related measures that have been recently signed into law by the Governor. Staff will also provide updates on noteworthy pending legislation affecting school districts and be available to answer questions from viewers.

If you want a healthy school climate, you must listen to students. Has your district thought about how it will welcome student board representatives, now required by law (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-1.3)? Have you determined how they will be selected, what they will do, and when to include them in discussions? Join superintendents and board members from districts who currently support student representatives to the school board to learn how these students can serve a vital role on your school safety team.

What new updates should board members be aware of when it comes to the ethical requirements for board member conduct? Join the NJSBA legal staff for a discussion about recent decisions regarding the School Ethics Act. Topics to be covered may include, but are not limited to, conflicts of interest, private action by board members, social media, and other hot topics under the Act.

Boards of Education have two essential leadership responsibilities: 1) To lead the district through policies and 2) to oversee the work of one employee-the Chief School Administrator/Superintendent. The panel discussion among five teams of Board Presidents/CSAs focuses on the collaborative, decision-making processes that include comprehensive discussions at the board table.