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San Marino board retreat emphasizes roles, Brown Act norms and clearer communication
Summary
At a June 8 retreat the superintendent urged the board to treat governance as strategy (the 'what'), leave operational 'how' work to staff, and adopt clearer communication norms; small‑group exercises produced actionable steps including site‑to‑executive memos, measurable metrics for board goals and more transparent bond project briefings.
San Marino Unified’s June 8 special board retreat centered on clarifying governance norms, with Superintendent Dr. Linda Deator framing the board’s role as setting the “what” and staff’s role as the “how.” Deator told trustees the distinction is central to strong governance and public trust, and emphasized the Brown Act’s prohibition on serial meetings.
"If we stay on our side and staff stays on theirs we are going to be a highly effective team," Deator said, urging regular refreshers on communication norms and fiscal literacy for board members.
During an extended presentation and Q&A, trustees discussed board visibility, conflict avoidance, and the value of consistent, agenda-driven public deliberation. Board members and staff then paired for a small‑group exercise to identify three concrete actions the governance team can take over the next year. Reported recommendations included: weekly or periodic site-to-executive memos to keep the superintendent and cabinet informed; measurable metrics paired with each board goal; increased transparency around bond Measure M early-impact projects via kickoff briefings; targeted outreach and alignment with PTA and school foundations; and periodic short closed‑session check-ins when legal or personnel issues demand timely attention.
Why it matters: board behavior and communication norms affect public trust, the district’s ability to respond quickly to issues, and the clarity of decision-making. Trustees noted that better upfront communication helps staff prepare factual answers at meetings and reduces the risk of surprises.
What the board will do next: staff will compile small‑group recommendations and propose a short set of governance actions and an annual refresh schedule for communication norms and Brown Act reminders. The board will consider metric definitions tied to each of its 2026–27 goals when they finalize those goals later in the retreat.
The board did not take formal votes during the retreat; the session focused on learning, alignment and planning.
