Before stepping into the high-stakes world of school board membership, there is one critical meeting which all aspiring board members must attend first – the one with themselves.
I have often observed that school boards tend to be better at pointing an accusatory finger than holding up a mirror to reflect on their own performance. In other words, boards are often better at accusing others than accepting responsibility. That is why looking into a metaphorical mirror is so important for current and aspiring board members.
Looking in the mirror is not just a metaphor; it represents a necessary moment of self-reflection. Why do you want to serve? Are you prepared for the challenges, conflicts, and responsibilities that come with shaping a school’s future? Joining a school board is not about furthering a personal agenda or inflating an ego; it is about commitment, collaboration, and the courage to make tough decisions for the benefit of students, educators, and the community. Before you take a seat at the table, take a long, honest look at the person staring back at you and ask the serious questions “Are you ready?” and “Are you worthy?”.
Some people join school boards because they want to contribute something significant to children’s futures. Others may join because of pressure from their friends on the board who are worried about low numbers and the problems they have to raise a quorum. Still others join because of a passion to pursue a single issue that concerns them or because a nominating organisation has put forward their name. Some are motivated to join a school board for personal or family reasons, others for emotional reasons that may relate to loyalty, while a surprisingly small number join for purely rational reasons.
Irrespective of the personal motivation, most people join school boards with honourable intentions and a passionate desire to improve the school. Of course, some board members may interpret the word “improve” differently from others, and that can lead to some robust discussions at board meetings. Occasionally, motivations are less honourable, ill-informed, prejudiced, self-serving, or simply unconstructive. Ego rather than service certainly drives some people to join school boards.
If you are a member of a school board, or if you are considering joining, it can be helpful to hold up a metaphorical mirror and reflect on your own motivations. Your motivation may be noble and focussed on serving others, such as one or more of the following:
Alternatively, your motivation may be more self-serving and personal, such as one or more of the following:
If you are interested in joining a school board, or if you have been approached by the board to consider joining, there are several important steps that should be taken. The first step is to find out and develop a clear understanding of the school’s mission. One of every school board’s primary duties is to develop, guide and implement the mission, which is the school’s enduring purpose – the guiding framework that underpins every decision that is made. If you don’t embrace the mission, you will not be able to contribute fully to the board, and you will probably experience intense frustration.
Effective school boards comprise members with various skills, talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Some larger boards create their own skills profile matrix which allows them to reflect upon the present composition as a means towards determining future needs. Therefore, board recruitment is a two-way process in which both the board and the individual need to be satisfied. Being willing and able is not enough; an aspiring board member must fill a need that the board has at a particular moment – a need that is beyond simply ‘adding to the numbers’.
It is also important that a prospective board member understands the expectations that the board has of its members. How many meetings are held each year? Is personal attendance required or is remote access acceptable? Is there a Code of Conduct to be signed, and if so, what are its inclusions? What are board’s policies on conflicts of interest and related party transactions? Does the board reimburse expenses for attending meetings? What are board members’ legal responsibilities and liabilities? These and many other details should be discussed openly and transparently before committing to board membership.
If an invitation to board membership is extended after all the conversations and information sharing have been completed, breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate – but only for a short time, because the hard work and the long hours are about to begin as the joy of serving others in this most important of duties gathers momentum.
In the wise words of Pat Bassett, former President of NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) from 2001 to 2013: “Being a board member does not allow you a special benefit; it burdens you with a responsibility”.
- Dr Stephen Codrington
We offer support for school leaders and board members in many areas, including workshops on board effectiveness, board performance reviews, and mentoring for school board members and senior executives.
Further information on this and many other facets of best practice in school leadership and governance is provided in the books “Optimal School Governance", and “Insights into School Leadership and Board Governance”, which can be ordered directly through Pronins.
You may also be interested in previous articles which are archived at https://optimalschool.com/articles.html. You can subscribe to receive future articles by e-mail using the red button below.
