One of the essential features of independent charter schools is their more effective form of governance. Rather than a traditional school district board of aspiring politicians often elected by a tiny minority of voters, charter school boards are comprised of diverse, community-minded individuals who focus intensely on the success of one school (or in some cases a small number of schools).
In the September issue of Charter Schools Insider, charter school veterans Joe Keeney (4th Sector Solutions) and Adrian Morgan (FirstLine Schools) contribute the first article in a two-part series on assembling an effective governing board and establishing an effective relationship between the board and the charter school leader.
“Because charter school board members must demonstrate competence in their charter school application, have a formal charter contract, and are subject to charter revocation and non-renewal, their level of accountability is high,” write Keeney and Morgan. “They are under pressure to perform.”
The authors argue, however, that “many charter school boards are not well-composed, high-functioning or accountability-oriented. Many do not exercise effective supervision of school leaders to deliver the results for which the board is accountable.” In part one of this series, Keeney and Morgan address the important skill sets that should be represented on a charter school board to ensure it is well composed.
At a minimum, the diverse sphere of experience represented on a charter school board should encompass expertise from the areas of community, education, finance or accounting, fundraising, legal, program or nonprofit, and politics. Keeney and Morgan examine all of these areas, explaining why each is important to the board and offering additional insights into the individual roles.
The authors also provide insights and recommendations on other knowledge areas and issues related to assembling and maintaining an effective charter school board, including real estate experts, executive directors, and committees and officers.
“The most successful boards develop specific metrics for the academic, financial and programmatic success of the school,” write Keeney and Morgan. “They find ways to support the leader in accomplishing these metrics and hold the leader accountable for delivering on these outcomes. Charter school boards that can establish this balance are structured for success.”
To read the article in its entirety, please download the September issue of Charter Schools Insider.
