As more and more education issues become politicized, educators need to learn to deal with school board members in a proactive way, Jeff Zdrale said at his session, You Can Shape the Right Role for Your Board in Curriculum.
Zdrale, director of curriculum and instruction for Neenah Public Schools in Wisconsin, noted that sometimes "the best defense is a good offense." District administrators need to show they are ready, willing, and able to share information with school board members, but they should keep their presentation short—talking no more than 10 minutes.
The proactive approach seems obvious—"a no-brainer"—Zdrale said, but some administrators feel that if they open themselves up too much, they risk meddling from the board. What are the appropriate roles for the school board? Some educators say the board sets policy and school leaders carry it out. Zdrale defines it this way: The board deals with ends and school leaders deal with the means. For example, it may be appropriate for a school board to approve what the kids will learn. School leaders, however, must decide what tools they are going to use to teach for these results.
Zdrale
The ends-means dichotomy doesn't always work though, Zdrale acknowledged. Acceptable exceptions usually occur when
The ends-means dichotomy doesn't always work though, Zdrale acknowledged. Acceptable exceptions usually occur when
- The magnitude of an issue is great.
- There's a great deal of controversy over an issue.
- The issue has high visibility in the community.
- The issue involves strong traditions or history.
Stickier exceptions occur when a specific board member has a particular "take" on an issue, Zdrale noted. Board members should not be calling specific teachers with requests, he asserted. The board should delegate to only one person—the superintendent. And the board should decide in advance what actions it is delegating and speak with one voice, he insisted. If that's not happening, then the president of the board needs to reel in board members who are getting off track and not being professional.
When you try to draw lines for the appropriate roles between board and district officials, "things get murky," Zdrale admitted. "But if you don't try, they get absolutely opaque."