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December 26, 2006

Wisconsin School Boards Evaluate Governance Focus

Amy Hetzner:

Under the model, used by a number of school boards in the state, the board develops a set of expectations and then holds its administrators accountable to achieve those goals and report on progress.

The result is a more focused board that has more objective criteria for evaluating the performance of the school superintendent, said Sue Kutz, president of the Racine Unified School Board, which began using policy governance this year.

Monthly monitoring reports and a review of the board's goals are used to evaluate the superintendent's performance, she said, rather than a subjective evaluation that focuses on "the last great fiasco that happened."

Boards are also spared the details and decision-making on issues for which they have little expertise.

"As a way of doing business, it seems to make so much more sense than the old way," Kutz said.

Interesting. Serving on a school board is perhaps one of the most difficult public service positions "available" today. The recently revealed $6M Madison School District structural deficit (in place for 7 years) along with ongoing curriculum questions and a recent lack of oversight obligations such as reviewing the Superintendent requires a vigilant, active board.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at December 26, 2006 6:21 AM
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