OSBA leads workshop on governance, data use and board–superintendent roles

Janet Avila Medina, a board development specialist with the Oregon School Boards Association, led a multi-hour governance workshop for Silver Falls trustees focused on board roles, monitoring district goals, and maintaining a healthy board–superintendent relationship.

Janet outlined the "12 balanced governance standards," urged annual review of district goals and recommended boards adopt a targeted monitoring plan. She described OSBA’s anonymous board self-evaluation (84 questions) and an optional targeted feedback survey to reduce bias. “This is our vision, our mission, and our values,” Janet said while introducing OSBA’s role; later she emphasized, “You need to trust the superintendent. You need to help set the direction,” framing governance as direction-setting rather than day-to-day management.

The training included scenario practice—how to respond to personnel complaints, public social-media posts by board members, and requests for classroom-level data—so trustees could rehearse staying within governance lines. The session also covered resources available through the OSBA portal, upcoming conferences and the superintendent-evaluation workbook developed with COSA.