[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6179138,"mediaKeyId","5133583-80bc181889ec09606c6f778a12b7d2f6","parentId",5133583,"title","Francis Howell R-III board holds MSBA training stressing governance questions and ‘stay in your lane’ approach","audioSeconds",807,"startMs",1777000,"endMs",2584000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5133583-80bc181889ec09606c6f778a12b7d2f6&start=1777&end=2584","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5133583-80bc181889ec09606c6f778a12b7d2f6/thumbnail_1777000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6179138/Missouri/Francis-Howell-R-III-board-holds-MSBA-training-stressing-governance-questions-and-stay-in-your-lane-approach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179138-57e5c6c8c6a2012509964f5f2379e9bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775449041&Signature=BGW4cyxIzRmT4LI7y~DDJ-7-Ycq7UdlhrLzuKpSsMVc-COGhka-4Vl-~ukyQiPoRLqI7hInNn313Gmso6XnQXDk83JhytcxivnvV~3J1T8UPwwDM7rTZHC5U9WuTn2IBViI~yfSkCNELLgy-ElOeBDNtzx-CJhQRJaNeV8e0Pptcg~V6qIfAj1LaqUsIq8-TkdtfhfRIdf1tmutGqvP6cEDyTQaAoDMq62tEIEPCjxbV96eK8ePiPpSEwG-gv2ZZddXT4hNyQDeK5Usj8kZ4ELntyXFM~6z8P1Pa1-zujugnpcdjJxS7Ix5hddfpR0Tg2FUd-bQuC~8Zh-Q1oPw-XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-02T14:06:54Z","article","Francis Howell R-III board members attended a Missouri School Boards Association training where MSBA presenters urged the board to keep its work at a strategic level and avoid stepping into staff operations, saying the board’s primary role is to approve and monitor the district’s strategic plan rather than run day‑to‑day activities.

The training — led by Susan Goldhammer, MSBA chief of law and policy, and Lisa Nieder, MSBA director of board development — emphasized asking “governance‑level” questions that seek understanding of goals and processes rather than prescribing operational details. “Asking governance level questions makes you a good board member. Asking good governance level questions makes you a great board member,” a trainer said during the session.

Trainers presented a set of examples to distinguish governance questions from operational ones. For a proposed school calendar, a non‑governance question would be “Can we just get rid of these PD days?” while a governance question would be “How does the district decide how much professional development time is needed and how it is allocated?” For curriculum adoption, trainers said the board should ask how a proposed curriculum aligns with stated goals rather than demand specifics about instructional techniques.

Board members discussed discipline data as a governance example. Trainers said asking for the number of unique students receiving referrals — rather than only total referrals — can change how the board interprets whether a discipline pattern reflects a few students or many. “Those are two different problems,” a trainer said, explaining why that data can be relevant for deciding whether to approve a program.

The session used a real‑world scenario about a board president who pressed for a different track color during construction; trainers and board members said the episode showed how well‑intentioned involvement in operational details can create personnel problems and extra work. In the example, the board added the color decision to the agenda, a construction update and coach recommendation followed, and a last‑minute decision to change color created friction — the athletic director later resigned, trainers said.

Trainers urged board members to send data requests that require staff work in advance of meetings so administrators can prepare answers, and to route inquiries through agreed channels rather than contact contractors or building staff directly. “If you get a board question, staff tend to drop everything,” a trainer warned, and recommended agreed communication protocols and timing for board packet questions.

Board members in the session described strategies for staying at the governance level, including framing questions to “seek understanding,” tying questions back to strategic goals, and using work sessions for brainstorming so idea sharing is not mistaken for operational directives. Several board members also said building trust with administration makes it easier to ask questions openly without creating a “gotcha” dynamic.

The training ended with trainers promising deeper guidance on communication protocols and a follow‑up retreat with the full board to finalize decision rules and expectations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","FHSD Board of Education Training by MSBA-July 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Francis Howell R-III board members attended a Missouri School Boards Association training where MSBA presenters urged the board to keep its work at a strategic level and avoid stepping into staff operations, saying the board’s primary role is to approve and monitor the district’s strategic plan rather than run day‑to‑day activities.","taxTitle","Francis Howell R-III, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",13570,"location","Missouri","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6179128,"MSBA attorney briefs Francis Howell R-III board on union rights, bargaining and limits on using public funds for ballot advocacy",0,8471000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5133583-80bc181889ec09606c6f778a12b7d2f6&start=8471&end=8471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5133583-80bc181889ec09606c6f778a12b7d2f6/thumbnail_8471000.jpg","/articles/6179128/Missouri/MSBA-attorney-briefs-Francis-Howell-R-III-board-on-union-rights-bargaining-and-limits-on-using-public-funds-for-ballot-advocacy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179128-b188fa02f306bd25decca0b192f63a24/orig.mp4?Expires=1775449041&Signature=cDlURgrSE5rYojviT2cPPE6xnO0Cv2H-oB1RKYA-5k6S5VXUsC-JSqVaSwkB-ZPSfPAPPOYaUTl6SU-~k8X6UlRiHiHAn5di9lAt3OmKUC~~fNjCXB-DJqp3LED4iMlfcgjhmh1EH8GCDl346Zxko9ca~MS2q6YGUqAHr7l6RsqpJDTY3jH7U0tA-b3tPPZi70sM8aH7nSW5IjGtULndXPI40b-wnCkcpJyKYzG40oyG1wSei1TmRxGOinKqqbrU91ttq7HQN3kTkYvMa8d1QHdmEMuHQEpn~mS04ycSrO26INFBYxqpv53b3lhfci2oBz3W59tWd-xSDu9Ekhevow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An MSBA legal presentation to Francis Howell R-III board members reviewed public‑sector union rights, collective bargaining and the board’s role in advocacy while explaining limits on the district’s ability to use public funds in ballot campaigns.

Susan Goldhammer, MSBA chief of law and policy, told the training that Missouri constitutional language and related case law give public employees the right to organize and that collective bargaining agreements are binding if the district chooses to enter them. She described differences among stakeholder circles — boards, administrators and unions — and urged the board to plan for communication and negotiation with employee groups.

Goldhammer warned that districts cannot use public funds to support or oppose ballot issues and that staff time paid by the district cannot be used for advocacy for a ballot measure. She advised that individual board members and the superintendent can speak as private citizens or public officials, but that districts must carefully separate factual informational communications from advocacy. “You can issue a resolution and a press release about how you feel about a particular topic,” she said, but emphasized constraints on district resources and formal advocacy.

The presentation discussed why some districts adopt collective bargaining agreements even when they are not legally compelled to do so: written agreements can provide continuity when leadership changes, give staff assurances about benefits and create negotiated processes for addressing workplace issues. Trainers said similar outcomes can sometimes be achieved through policy, but both boards and unions often prefer the predictability of a formal agreement.

Board members and trainers also touched on practical responses when budget pressure limits compensation or benefits; trainers said clear, consistent communication and early planning help preserve working relationships when resources are constrained.

Goldhammer recommended that boards set clear advocacy priorities, limit those priorities to a small set the board can actively support, and use work sessions to develop a coordinated approach that the full board can approve. She said MSBA provides guidance documents on these topics to help boards craft policies and communications consistent with law.

No votes were taken; the session was advisory and focused on planning and communications.","Susan Goldhammer of MSBA outlined the legal landscape for public‑sector unions, collective bargaining and the limits on using district funds to support or oppose ballot measures. Trainers recommended clear communication and agreed board advocacy priorities.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6179133,"MSBA trainers tell Francis Howell R-III board to adopt two‑way community engagement plan; note new legal requirements",1402,5729000,7131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5133583-80bc181889ec09606c6f778a12b7d2f6&start=5729&end=7131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5133583-80bc181889ec09606c6f778a12b7d2f6/thumbnail_5729000.jpg","/articles/6179133/Missouri/MSBA-trainers-tell-Francis-Howell-R-III-board-to-adopt-twoway-community-engagement-plan-note-new-legal-requirements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179133-e86b3f2408dda660f108ab6ac67f47eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775449041&Signature=niDQz1~3aXq7~uVoMUbBatWZHX~WNvIyI5FoWAnp9CGW3sDcK-ukK85PYx6tvJ56040dhrbajvI66B1Y0xmbfyvgVpR8LlELNMt3Wa62ITiFgwF3Iua1hxdT4mlBv822GDya82~3FIRsftXKBK1wBMC0InrW31TXHTAmyCTqjMJgDm19s4DKP0gp37evDf2PqSANx-Jz60l9h4AnksAiB98-rudIRY97TAi7K-OeqTRYY8gf7UcEJLMeMVEy3PVmJPN0riuS6FSRv6uDXcaM6EI9D8bbKNw0otIZNKtbuqinVgBt~tJa5aQz-8ax0vEF8OYRc-DJOy03lFgINjA3ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Missouri School Boards Association presenters told Francis Howell R-III board members the district should adopt a formal, two‑way community engagement plan and share its communication plan with the board and the public.

Susan Goldhammer, MSBA chief of law and policy, told attendees that state law now requires districts to provide a path for residents to get on a board agenda after pursuing specified steps locally. “If they go through the chain of command, they can get on the board’s agenda,” she said, describing a legislative change the association has urged districts to address in policy.

Trainers and board members reviewed existing local activities the district uses for outreach — “Citizens in Our Schools,” Senior Pals events, community roundtables, principal coffee sessions, surveys and public comment at meetings — and discussed how to make those avenues more reliably representative. Board members said the district runs multiple engagement programs, that many meetings are recorded and that the strategic plan itself grew from community roundtables.

Presenters recommended a consistent district message and urged board members to amplify official district communications instead of posting independent summaries of meetings that can introduce opinion or conflicting narratives. “We really recommend letting the district do the talking. That helps maintain consistency,” a trainer said.

Trainers and board members discussed practical steps to reach underrepresented groups: scheduled invite‑based roundtables that feed participants, feeding attendees to increase turnout, working with principals and community organizations to recruit people and using staff who already engage with at‑risk families as proxies to gather feedback.

Board members raised the difficulty of knowing when public comments reflect a few vocal individuals versus a widespread community view; trainers recommended multiple engagement channels and intentional outreach to try to ensure representativeness while avoiding survey fatigue.

Trainers said the association has templates and guidance on community engagement and encouraged the Francis Howell R‑III board and administration to review a district communication plan together and select targeted engagement priorities.","Missouri School Boards Association presenters told Francis Howell R-III board members they must adopt reliable two‑way community engagement practices and noted a statutory requirement that residents can request agenda time after following a chain of command.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Francis Howell R-III board holds MSBA training stressing governance questions and ‘stay in your lane’ approach

MSBA attorney briefs Francis Howell R-III board on union rights, bargaining and limits on using public funds for ballot advocacy

MSBA trainers tell Francis Howell R-III board to adopt two‑way community engagement plan; note new legal requirements