School board rookies or veterans, superintendents, administrators, and the education-guiding citizenry are the reading targets for Jim Burgett's newest K-12 book (of six). The Art of School Boarding should also be mandatory reading for candidates seeking school board election. As Burgett explains in easy-reading detail, being a school board member is not a political position, nor one of royalty. It's held in modest esteem. Board members deal with families, law, curricula, finances, mandates, athletics, the fine arts-the ...
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School board rookies or veterans, superintendents, administrators, and the education-guiding citizenry are the reading targets for Jim Burgett's newest K-12 book (of six). The Art of School Boarding should also be mandatory reading for candidates seeking school board election. As Burgett explains in easy-reading detail, being a school board member is not a political position, nor one of royalty. It's held in modest esteem. Board members deal with families, law, curricula, finances, mandates, athletics, the fine arts-the list goes on. No pay, tough issues, lots of controversy, much reading-oh yes, the future of the community is also in its hands. "School Boarding" is an art. Boards have their own purpose, means, per-sonality, process, and protocol. These pages discuss the basics of this particular boardsmanship, school govern-ance, the role of the board, its members, and the administration. It explains ethical expectations, a specific Code of Conduct, and how the board handles community concerns and builds relationships. Dozens of case studies also provide examples and insight from other, veteran board members and administrators. The common sense of these straightforward, jargon-free pages explains what present or future board mem-bers must know. Twelve words or phrases capture the core of The Art of School Boarding leadership, superintendent selection, vision, morale standards, relationship building, trust, policy development, the law, ethics, educational support, setting expectations, and the chain-of-command. "If you are or want to be a good school board member this book is priority one reading," says Darell Belm, past winner of Illinois' Outstanding School Board President Award. An additional comment about the book from a top K-12 leader says "Great guide for board members and superintendents to stay focused on the mission of the school," from Jim L. King, Ed.D., the Executive Director of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals.
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