CSBA has launched its first Delegate Assembly Governance Review Committee (DGRC) — a significant step in ensuring that the Delegate Assembly (DA) remains a representative and effective body for school board members statewide. This initiative stems from CSBA’s 2017 Governance Study Group and the 2019 Governance Task Force, which identified the need for periodic evaluations of Delegate representation, engagement and communication.

In September 2024, then-CSBA President Albert Gonzalez appointed a 20-member committee, composed of Delegates and members of the Board of Directors. The DGRC’s mandate is to conduct a review of the Delegate Assembly governing structure after every fourth reapportionment cycle (see Standing Rule 52C), i.e., every 12 years. The committee’s standing list of areas to review includes the diversity of representation, regular rebalancing of representation after reapportionment, roles and responsibilities of Delegates, the level of Delegate engagement, and the effectiveness of communication channels between Delegates, Directors and member boards.

Additionally, the Board has tasked the DGRC with examining four key governance issues raised by members and Delegates in recent years: reapportionment calculations, the dataset used for calculations, the Candidate Review Committee composition and process, and criteria for establishing Director-at-Large positions.

The DGRC’s work is organized into two working groups. Group A (Representation) will focus on diversity of representation, reapportionment (calculations, data to use and regular rebalancing afterward) and criteria for Director-at-Large positions. Group B (Engagement) will examine Delegate engagement, communication channels, roles and responsibilities, and the Candidate Review Committee.

Committee members are working on a timeline spanning December 2024 to May 2026:

• Winter–spring 2025: Working groups draft recommendations
• Summer 2025: Refinement of recommendations based on feedback
• Fall 2025: Final review and staff report preparation
• November 2025: Report submitted to the Board of Directors
• May 2026: Presentation of findings and Board actions at the DA meeting

The Committee anticipates that Delegates will receive the final DGRC report at the May 2026 DA meeting, including any Standing Rules amendments adopted by the Board and proposed bylaw changes for Delegate consideration and voting.

This process represents CSBA’s commitment to continuous improvement, inclusivity and transparency in its governance structure. For any questions about the committee or its work, contact Andrew Keller, senior director of Executive Office Operations and Strategic Initiatives, at akeller@csba.org.