Meeting at the Annual Conference, ASCD's Board of Directors approved a major report on governance and member participation and the establishment of two new ASCD affiliates.
A significant part of the Board meeting was devoted to the report of the ASCD Panel on Governance and Member Participation. The report makes 37 recommendations that would enlarge the Board of Directors and the Executive Council, institute a new process for addressing critical education issues, and create more opportunities for member participation, among other initiatives. After debating and modifying some of the recommendations, the Board approved the report. Some of the recommendations will require further approval by ASCD members. (Look for a report on the new approaches in a fall issue of Update.)
In other action, the Board approved applications for affiliation from Japan and the Northwest Territories, bringing the total number of affiliates to 64.
The Board also heard a report on the development of ASCD's new strategic plan. The Strategic Planning Commission has developed draft mission and beliefs statements and completed an environmental scan. In addition, ASCD Executive Director Gene Carter reviewed with the Board ASCD's new Annual Report, which was recast in a new format this year. (For a copy of the Strategic Planning materials or the Annual Report, contact Diane Berreth, ASCD, 1250 N. Pitt St., Alexandria, VA 22314).
Finally, the Board formally approved eight resolutions urging action on such issues as community service, equal educational opportunities, and school-to-work transition. For more details, see the Resolutions flyer accompanying this Update.