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Jordan School Board members report takeaways from USBA Leadership Academy, form ad hoc retreat committee
Summary
Board members who attended the USBA Leadership Academy summarized lessons on Portrait of a Graduate, WPU funding and AI; the board voted to create an ad hoc committee to plan a board retreat and explore regular self-evaluation.
Several Jordan School District board members who attended the Utah School Boards Association (USBA) Leadership Academy reported takeaways at the Oct. 14 board study session and the board voted to form an ad hoc committee to plan a board retreat and consider a board self-evaluation process.
Board President Nikki George opened the conversation by recounting the conference agenda and why it mattered to the district’s work. “I am Nikki George, the board president, and I'll be conducting the meeting this evening,” she said, and described sessions that reinforced the district’s Portrait of a Graduate and pushed other districts to emphasize soft skills, technical training and the classroom use of artificial intelligence.
The meeting’s presenters and board members described recurring Academy themes: stronger, shorter board codes of conduct and handbooks; periodic board self-assessments tied to strategic planning; and retreats that pair relationship-building with concrete work on priorities. Several members said the sessions changed or deepened their understanding of the state’s Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) funding formula and how legislators view education’s share of the state budget.
The board then debated whether to revive a longer retreat and how to structure it. Dr. Anderson and other members said a productive retreat would include a board self-evaluation conducted in advance, focused discussion on strategic priorities and an opportunity for a service project with schools. Multiple board members said retreats should be timed to maximize attendance and avoid summer scheduling challenges.
A motion to create an ad hoc committee “for the purpose of defining the agenda of our board retreat and possibly coming up with a new name” that would include board members identified in the meeting passed by voice vote. The committee was established by board action at the meeting; the board chair summarized the motion and the ayes carried.
Board members framed the move as a step toward improving board cohesion and ensuring the board’s governance practices align with the district’s strategic plan and Portrait of a Graduate.
Looking ahead, members suggested the new committee bring specific proposals on retreat goals, possible dates, options for board self-evaluation tools and a recommended agenda back to the full board for consideration.
