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

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…