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Board receives public training on goal monitoring from the Council of the Great City Schools
Summary
The board held an in‑meeting professional development session with the Council of the Great City Schools on a monthly goal‑monitoring model: concise monitoring reports (1–5 pages), four required elements (goal, data, superintendent interpretation, evidence and plan) and a rubric for evaluating board questions.
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District Board of Education received public governance training from AJ Kraybill, director of governance at the Council of the Great City Schools, on student‑outcomes focused goal monitoring.
Kraybill described goal monitoring as a monthly, public micro‑evaluation of district progress toward board‑adopted goals. He told board members that monitoring reports should be concise (recommended 1–5 pages) and consistently include four elements: the specific goal being monitored, the agreed‑upon data, the superintendent’s interpretation of the data, and evidence plus an action plan.
Key takeaways from the training
- Effective monitoring reports: Kraybill said reports must state the monitored goal, present the agreed measure(s), provide the superintendent’s interpretation and include an evidence‑based plan for next steps.
- Question rubric: Board members practiced drafting monitoring questions that are strategy‑focused (not tactical), measure‑focused, open‑ended, results‑focused and time‑bound. Kraybill emphasized that the board’s questions should drive strategic conversation and avoid “gotcha” tactics.
- Preparation and accountability: Kraybill said board members must prepare before meetings — the coaching team will score monitoring conversations and provide feedback; lack of preparation will reduce effectiveness and could be scored accordingly.
Why it matters
The training frames the board’s oversight as an ongoing, public examination of whether district strategies are producing the outcomes the community expects. Several board members said they welcome the structure, but acknowledged the approach requires discipline and preparation.
Ending
The board received materials and was asked to place monitoring items on a calendar so the superintendent can prepare concise, consistent reports in advance of monthly monitoring conversations.
Speakers
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