Board hears review of three-year governance plan; members discuss self-evaluation cadence

Board Chair Katie Schwartz and members reviewed the board governance plan and a three-year work calendar during the Oct. 2 workshop and discussed whether to schedule recurring board self-evaluations and retreats.

Chair Schwartz said the governance plan for 2024-25 lists prior activities and that staff had annotated dates for items such as the student handbook approval. Dana (board staff) and vice chair summarized missing items the board might want to reintroduce, including annual board self-evaluation, twice-yearly board professional development and listening sessions.

Board members expressed differing views on bringing self-evaluations back as a regular requirement. One board member noted research presented at a national conference that linked board self-evaluation and governance planning to improved student outcomes, while others said past evaluations had low participation and produced limited actionable follow-up. Member comments stressed that if evaluations are reinstated they should be meaningful and tied to concrete professional development or board goals.

Members agreed the governance topics could be combined with retreat sessions and that any new cadence should take into account board turnover; the board expects at least one new member next year. Chair Schwartz asked staff to investigate the research and practical formats for a self-evaluation process that produces usable results and to propose a schedule tied to the board'''s retreat and development calendar.

Ending: Staff will return with options for board evaluation tools, suggested timing and a plan for converting evaluation results into targeted professional development or governance work tied to student outcomes.