One of the lessons we in the education community all learned during COVID was that in order to navigate through the many challenges we faced, there must be clarity around procedures, protocols and agreed-upon commitments. These criteria should be compiled in a handbook that can guide a governance team’s actions in order to keep everyone as safe as possible, following important county, state and federal requirements, and communicating with the public. A governance handbook adopted by the board of education plays a critical role in the important work of governance.

Local educational agency board bylaws (typically the 9000 series) establish the governance framework, ensure compliance with state laws, outline ethical standards and define the board’s relationship with the superintendent. A governance handbook goes one step beyond, as it details the implementation of the bylaws and how the governance team operates.

The following are questions board members can ask related to the governance handbook and how the governance team works together:

• How do we create clarity around the board’s role versus that of the superintendent in our governance handbook? And what role does an individual trustee play in strengthening the governance team’s relationships?
• What agreements do we need to include in our governance handbook to ensure our meetings are conducted efficiently and transparently? How do trustees prepare for this conversation if they have experienced a few difficult board meetings?
• Knowing there are times when a community member expects individual trustees to make comments as the “board” about a sensitive issue, what is the appropriate way to communicate with them while following board communication protocol?
• When new board members join the board after being elected, how can other trustees help them and make sure they are aware of the agreed-upon protocols?

Protocols outlined in a governance handbook clarify procedures the board follows to ensure smooth operations aligned with the district’s mission, vision and priorities. It includes important information on how the board and superintendent work together in order to get things done efficiently and transparently, following the Brown Act.

Reviewing and updating the governance handbook on an annual basis is an important task. It may be part of the board’s self-evaluation, or part of a CSBA-led “Good Beginnings” workshop when a new board member joins the board. Having the process and conversations guided by a facilitator allows all members of the governance team to be fully engaged in generative conversations that codify the board and superintendent’s commitment to work together in order to support students and staff.

Ready for a specialized workshop for your governance team? Contact CSBA’s Governance Consulting Services at gcs@csba.org.