Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Accreditation And Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board weighs accreditation, STEPS program and a one-year plan of work
Summary
Members discussed whether to pursue formal museum accreditation versus the AASLH STEPS self-assessment, and staff proposed each board adopt a measurable one-year plan of work aligned with the city strategic plan to guide future agendas and grant efforts.
The board discussed the merits of pursuing museum accreditation and the Standards and Excellence (STEPS) program for history organizations. Staff clarified that STEPS is a self-assessment program from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) and is distinct from formal accreditation previously associated with the American Association of Museums (AAM) or state-level Texas Historical Commission oversight.
Staff (Kim) described STEPS as "a self assessment…seeing where you are…judging yourself against national standards and best practices," and said formal accreditation requires a separate, more rigorous process. Members noted that while accreditation can open some grant opportunities, other funding avenues (e.g., Texas Parks and Wildlife grants or Friends-led nonprofit applications) remain available even without accreditation.
To focus board activity, staff proposed each board develop a short annual "plan of work" with measurable goals aligned to the city's strategic plan. The plan would be developed by subcommittees, reviewed at meetings, and presented to council as part of annual reporting. Members agreed to pause deep subcommittee restructuring until they can see the strategic plan and draft goals; staff said the plan would be discussed again in the fall with an eye toward September–November milestones.
No formal action was taken; members asked staff to bring printed strategic plan copies and an overview of the STEPS materials to a future meeting.
