As a new calendar year begins, many engage in the annual tradition of setting resolution goals for 2026. This is a great time to reflect on the previous year’s performance and to set intentions for the year ahead — not only at home or work, but also in your role as a trustee. How might you strengthen your trusteeship? Areas to consider might include:

• Learning more about district systems like finances or student achievement.
• Developing a better understanding of the rules of order that govern your meetings.
• Improving how well you prepare for board meetings.

While setting individual intentions is important, boards of education should reflect on performance and goals in creating new objectives for the governance team. Why? Because boards operate collectively — trustees have no individual authority. The board’s decisions can only be reached at board meetings, where time is limited, stakes are high and the issues are often complex. It is difficult work. Investing in board effectiveness is critical to supporting district efforts to improve student outcomes.

Most likely, in December, governance teams determined their officers and confirmed their meeting calendar for 2026. With these basic structures in place for the calendar year, now is a good time to consider the bigger questions:

• How can the governance team move from “good” to “great”?
• In what areas do we need a deeper dive?
• Where should we focus critical conversations about areas of growth for our governance team?

These conversations take time and resources. The first step in developing the board’s goals for improving its governance work is to commit the time. CSBA offers a range of learning opportunities for trustees to develop their school governance knowledge and skills, including courses, thought partners, tools and resources that can assist with efforts to develop the governance team.

CSBA’s Governance Consulting Services (GCS) can provide support tailored to a local educational agency team’s unique circumstances. In 2025, the GCS staff conducted over 150 consulting sessions for LEAs across California.

For more information or assistance with next steps in your governance journey, contact the GCS team at gcs@csba.org and a governance consultant will provide additional information.

Individual training opportunities

New to the board?

The New Board Member Training Bundle includes:

• Orientation for New Trustees
• The Brown Act
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Ethics: State-mandated training requirement

Looking to lead?

Board Presidents Workshop: Offers current and aspiring board presidents tools for leading the board toward a shared vision with focus on student achievement.

Masters In Governance® (MIG): Five courses providing knowledge and skills to build and support an effective governance structure. MIG is available for both district and county offices of education. In-person district MIG cohorts in Chico and San Jose begin on Feb. 21 and MIG COE Course 1 will be presented in person prior to the CSBA Counties Governance Workshop in San Diego on March 10.

The Executive Assistant (EA) Certification Program: Modeled after MIG, the EA Certification program offers four courses that equip the executive assistants with the necessary knowledge, tools and techniques as they manage their complex role of supporting the governance team.