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Board reviews transparency statement and committee roles with Teamworks facilitator
Summary
Facilitated by consultant Christine Reesi, the board worked on a statement of transparency, exercised a grounding activity, and reviewed committee charges and reporting lines; administration will return with clarified committee descriptions and recommendations.
The ISD 279 School Board on March 11 spent the second half of its work session with Teamworks consultant Christine Reesi refining a proposed statement of transparency and reviewing the district’s committee structure and governance flow.
Reesi led a short grounding exercise and presented a draft transparency statement compiled from retreat work. Board members recommended simplifying language, adding practical examples or FAQs about what the district can and cannot share (for example, that student and personnel data are protected), and clarifying expectations for board liaisons to advisory committees.
Why it matters: Board members said inconsistent committee charges and unclear staff roles have created confusion about whether advisory groups report to administration or the board, who speaks for the district and when, and how community members and parents can reliably participate. Several statutory committees (DPAC, special education advisory, APAC) were identified; administration agreed to verify legal requirements and to return with a completed committee table.
Discussion points and next steps: Members debated the role of board members on committees (recommended as observers/listeners rather than active recommendation makers), the need to clarify staff facilitation versus staff advocacy in advisory groups, and the value of preserving community members’ psychological safety in engagement forums. The board asked administration to consult committees, tighten committee descriptions and charges, and bring a recommended statement of transparency and committee‑flow document back to the board for review.
The board also agreed to adjust upcoming meeting dates to consolidate sessions in April to allow more time for the planned professional development day; the work session concluded with brief exit reflections from members.
