NHSBA trains Laconia School Board on governance, superintendent oversight and digital‑communication rules

Barrett Christina, executive director of the New Hampshire School Boards Association, told the Laconia School Board on Jan. 7 that its primary legal duty is to ensure children in the district receive an appropriate education and that the board must govern through policy while the superintendent manages day‑to‑day operations.

The session, presented by NHSBA staff including Will Phillips, the association’s staff attorney and director of policy services, aimed at new board members and covered core governance principles, personnel nomination and renewal procedures, budget oversight for city‑dependent districts, strategic planning, and the right‑to‑know rules that apply to electronic communications. "We're not here to dictate or lecture — we're here to answer any questions the board may have about responsibilities, board governance, and, if time permits, anything else on your mind," Christina said.

Why it matters: presenters emphasized that many decisions that look managerial are in fact policy choices for the board and that a lack of clear policy or process can expose the district to legal and…