Superintendent’s Corner:

Vision for Board Governance: A Commitment to Excellence at the School District of Stratford Throughout the last year it has been a pleasure sharing with you our Strategic Plans Pillars, goals, and action steps. In this article, we are excited to present our vision for effective board governance, a key component of our commitment to academic success and community engagement. This vision was shaped by a transformative retreat held in the summer of 2023, where our school board, guided by attorney Ben Richter and consultant Cheryl Stinski from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, crafted essential board norms.

Why Board Norms Matter

The role of a school board is pivotal in steering local education systems. Board members oversee critical functions including setting educational standards, approving budgets, hiring superintendents, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Given the breadth of these responsibilities, effective governance is essential—and that’s where well-defined norms come in.

Norms are the foundational practices and behaviors that dictate how board members interact with one another, engage with the public, and collaborate with school administrators. These guidelines set clear expectations for communication, decision-making, and problem- solving. Without such norms, meetings can become disorganized, decisions may lack coherence, and public trust can wane.

Building Public Trust

Clear norms also enhance public trust. When a board operates transparently and consistently, it reassures the community that decisions are made with integrity and in the best interests of students. This transparency is vital for maintaining public confidence and securing support, which is essential for passing referendums and securing funding.

Public engagement becomes more meaningful when norms are in place. Procedures for public participation ensure that community feedback is heard and considered, enriching the decision-making process and reinforcing the board’s accountability to its stakeholders.

Commitment to Continuous Improvement To keep norms relevant and effective, ongoing training and periodic reviews are crucial. New board members will be introduced to existing norms and provided with the tools for effective governance.

Norms will be communicated clearly to the public and school staff, promoting transparency and a better understanding of decision- making processes and stakeholder engagement.

Our Vision for Board Governance

The School District of Stratford Board of Education envisions governance that: Cultivates and maintains a structural system for academic growth and success.

Our Board Norms are as follows:

■ In order to ensure that there is adequate time for board members to prepare and review all relevant materials, information, data, etc. related to the agenda items, board members will receive the board packet three to four days in advance of the board meeting.

■ Board members will reach out to the superintendent/ board president with any questions regarding agenda items prior to the board meeting.

■ All board members are encouraged to willingly contribute to each agenda item.

■ The board welcomes communication with stakeholders and community members. Communication with the community will be open and honest.

■ We will refer all people with positive or negative comments and concerns regarding school district operations to the proper staff person or administrator directly responsible for the operational activity. We will focus on the board’s role and not become involved in the day-to-day operations of the school system. We will not engage in the resolution of problems; rather we will refer these concerns to the superintendent.

■ We will not undermine the majority decision of the board.

■ We will respect the views of others and assume positive intent.

■ We will focus our discussion on the education of our students and decisions will be based on the board’s strategic plan, its mission, reliable data, and what’s best for students.

■ We will be good stewards of tax dollars.

■ We will model the behaviors that the board expects from students, staff, and community members. When there are differences of opinion, we will focus on the facts and not make them personal.

■ The school board will be visible and attend a minimum of three events in the district.

By adhering to these norms, the School District of Stratford aims to ensure a productive, respectful, and transparent governance structure that ultimately benefits our students and strengthens our community.

Nathan Lehman