From school law and policy to community relations and strategic planning, there's a WASB program or presentation
available that can improve the knowledge and skills of school board members, administrators, and other employees
in your school district. Whether targeted for individuals who are relatively new to their role as a school official, or for
those who have more extensive experience, WASB programs encourage continuous learning and foster the effective
practices that will help your school board achieve its goals.
All of the programs and presentations listed below are available for scheduling by individual school districts (for the
school board and/or for district employees) or by groups of districts that share a common interest in a particular topic.
They can be 1-3 hours or more. Just contact the WASB to schedule an on-site customized workshop.
Some of the programs are also offered at pre-scheduled times for any board member of any district to attend. Contact
the WASB for more information.
GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNICATION FOR
COLLABORATION
Proficient listening and speaking skills reduce misunderstandings
between people, contribute to teamwork, build rapport and goodwill, and
are essential to effectively handling problems and resolving conflict.
This interactive workshop will help participants:



Understand effective communication
Communicate messages directly, clearly, and positively
Improve listening capabilities
COMMUNICATION - THE
FOUNDATION OF PRODUCTIVE
RELATIONSHIPS AND STRONG
SCHOOLS
Effective Listening Skills
Effective communication is at the heart of every successful working
relationship. Proficient listening skills are especially essential because
they reduce misunderstandings and contribute to teamwork and
constructive conflict management – saving time, money and frustration.
Identify obstacles to effective listening and improve your listening skills to
communicate constructively with teachers, administrators, parents,
students, and the public to create productive relationships and build
strong schools.
DATA FIRST—
FOUNDATIONS 1
Learn simple practices to effectively organize and present data to your
board and your public. This workshop will also review key questions to
ask any time data are in front of you. You will do hands-on exercises to
put the principles into practice. Core concepts come from Data First for
Governance, a research-based, board-tested workshop series developed
by the Center for Public Education and the National School Boards
Association.
DATA FIRST—
FOUNDATIONS 2
This course builds on the Foundations 1 information by helping board
members learn what decisions and actions are needed after considering
data. Data isn’t a trend, it’s a necessity, and boards must be able to use
data to determine the effectiveness of their work and the progress being
made to impact achievement. School funding, state and federal
mandates and community support all demand high levels of
accountability using data.
EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD
PRACTICES - ESTABLISHING
PROTOCOL AND PRACTICES
School boards are monitoring one of the largest businesses in a
community. This session will engage you in a conversation about
establishing important protocols and practices as a board to allow you to
address conflict on the board or with the community in a thoughtful,
deliberate manner.
EVALUATION - SUPERINTENDENT /
Leadership assessment is an integral part of any school district progress
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR (ONE TO assessment. An environment of continuous improvement requires a
TWO HOUR SESSION)
developmental approach to evaluation. Evaluation of the District
Administrator / Superintendent has not been established under the
Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness Model. However, school districts need
to be ready and informed, by setting a tone for executive leadership
evaluation. This session will provide some insights and meaningful tips
for school board members and school leaders to enhance their existing
evaluation system and prepare for future changes.
Note: Additional sessions can be arranged to design a local
Superintendent/District Administrator evaluation system for your school
district.
FOCUSED CONVERSATIONS AND
THE LADDER OF INFERENCES
Board meetings can drag on-and-on when issues get contentious. In this
workshop, you will learn how to use the Ladder of Inference to
understand the different perspectives that may exist among your board
members and community. You will learn how to construct questions that
uncover assumptions and beliefs, concepts that lie at the heart of many
of our disagreements. When we uncover assumptions, we often find that
there is less disagreement than we might have originally thought.
KEY WORK IN ACTION: COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
Our publics are expecting that we do more than simply communicate TO
them; they want to provide feedback that gets used. This workshop will
cover a Key Work component, community engagement. Learn about
engagement tools that you can use to plan events that are more likely to
get you the information that you need and give participants the
opportunity to provide meaningful feedback. Understanding your board’s
commitment to engagement, creating powerful questions, and planning
an event that provides a space for dialogue are a few of the concepts
covered in this workshop.
KEY WORK IN ACTION: STANDARDS, In this interactive workshop, learn how you can use the Key Work
ASSESSMENT, AND
concepts to understand and prepare for the changes required by
ACCOUNTABILITY
Wisconsin’s new accountability system. Learn about Common Core,
InTASC, and ISLLC standards and how these form the foundation for the
state’s accountability system. Learn about the framework of that system
including SMARTER Balance assessments, the Accountability Index and
Rating, and educator evaluation. Engage in conversation and reflect on
questions that can help your board support these changes in your
district.
KEY WORK IN ACTION: VISION AND
ALIGNMENT
Combine downward pressure on public school financing, upward
pressure on measurable advances in student achievement, and the
unique pressures present in each of Wisconsin’s 424 school districts,
and you’ve got a complicated set of challenges. Building on the Vision
and Alignment chapters in the Key Work of School Boards, this session
will focus on the school board’s distinct and challenging role in
budgeting. Regardless of which alignment-related skills you hope to
build, this workshop will make a difference.
KEY WORK OF SCHOOL BOARDS OVERVIEW
The Key Work of School Boards provides clear guidance for board
members looking to develop the leadership skills they need to deal with
today’s educational and political challenges. The framework uses a
systems approach to help school boards focus on student achievement.
Learn how to use this practical framework to make a difference in your
district.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF
SCHOOL BOARD, CLIMATE,
POLITICS, AND COMMUNICATION
(ONE TO TWO HOUR SESSION)
This session will deal with leadership development of the school board,
communication among school board members and the superintendent,
the climate necessary for solid communication, and how politics will
influence the communication within and outside the school district
LEADERSHIP TEAM DEVELOPMENT
FOR SCHOOL BOARD AND
SUPERINTENDENT (ONE TO TWO
HOUR SESSION)
This session will deal with the leadership team development focusing on
the school board and superintendent. Areas covered will be trust
building, decision making, school board dynamics, goal setting, and
community interaction
LEADERSHIP AND TRUST: THE
FOUNDATION FOR EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATOR
EFFECTIVENESS, COMMON CORE,
AND BALANCED ASSESSMENT
Leadership and trust are elements critical to the effective implementation
of any initiatives introduced in a school district. The recent flurry of
programs including Educator Effectiveness, the Common Core
Standards, and Smarter Balanced Assessment are challenging the skills
of leadership personnel across the state.
This session will provide guidance for the successful implementation,
from a board member perspective, of these programs premised on
proven methods for building support and acceptance among staff and the
community. The “take-aways” from this session will be focused on school
board governance and leadership in an educational environment of rapid
change and increased public accountability.
LEADERSHIP AS COMMUNICATION
The complexity of the problems we face requires a leadership style that
is very different than what worked in the past. Today, effective leadership
is grounded in communication and strong relationships. This workshop
outlines key communication dynamics of effective leadership and
provides time to practice communication tools to take back and use in
your district.
LISTENING AND ASKING QUESTIONS Proficient listening skills are essential to a successful working
relationship because they reduce misunderstandings and contribute to
teamwork and constructive conflict management. A spirit of inquiry,
rather than advocacy, can also help you use conflict effectively. In this
workshop you will learn how to identify obstacles to effective listening
and improve your listening skills. You will also learn how to use questions
to focus your conversations and understand how to communicate
constructively to create productive relationships and building strong
schools.
THE OPPORTUNITY OF CONFLICT
Conflict occurs naturally and can present an opportunity for growth,
understanding, and change. When ignored or mismanaged, conflict can
be a destructive force that wastes time, energy and money while
damaging the kind of working relationships necessary for getting things
done. Learn tips and tools to help you become more comfortable with
conflict, manage conflict constructively and work together with board
members, administrators, teachers, parents, students and the public for
win-win resolutions.
POLITICS OF LEADERSHIP
The reality of school leadership sets in when you see political undertones
surrounding the many issues which you must deal with as a school board
member. This session is designed to help arm you with ideas to operate
above the political fray. It is often stated that all politics are local, so the
session will involve participants sharing real examples of how they dealt
with the politics of education in their local school district community.
SYSTEM CAPACITY,
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, AND
ADMINISTRATIVE EFFECTIVENESS
(ONE HOUR SESSION WHICH COULD
BE EXPANDED TO TWO HOUR
SESSION)
This session will focus on task identification and school board
expectations as it relates to school system capacity to accomplish tasks
and its relationship to school administrative structure and leadership
effectiveness when dealing with staff and instructional improvement.
UNDERSTAND AND DEAL WITH
STRESS TO IMPROVE LEADERSHIP
PERFORMANCE
School leadership positions are fraught with stressful situations that
require immediate action. Many times these actions are subject to
extensive public oversight, second guessing, and criticism from a variety
of sources. This session will focus on the common reasons for stress and
suggest ways in which leaders can address stress to find more
enjoyment in their professional work and personal lives.
Note: Local school situations will be addressed, if desired, and the
session will then be two hours in length.
STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTION
DATA FIRST—
FOUNDATIONS 1
Learn simple practices to effectively organize and present data to your
board and your public. This workshop will also review key questions to
ask any time data are in front of you. You will do hands-on exercises to
put the principles into practice. Core concepts come from Data First for
Governance, a research-based, board-tested workshop series
developed by the Center for Public Education and the National School
Boards Association.
DATA FIRST—
FOUNDATIONS 2
This course builds on the Foundations 1 information by helping board
members learn what decisions and actions are needed after
considering data. Data isn’t a trend, it’s a necessity, and boards must
be able to use data to determine the effectiveness of their work and the
progress being made to impact achievement. School funding, state and
federal mandates and community support all demand high levels of
accountability using data.
KEY WORK IN ACTION: STANDARDS,
In this interactive workshop, learn how you can use the Key Work
ASSESSMENT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY concepts to understand and prepare for the changes required by
Wisconsin’s new accountability system. Learn about Common Core,
InTASC, and ISLLC standards and how these form the foundation for
the state’s accountability system. Learn about the framework of that
system including SMARTER Balance assessments, the Accountability
Index and Rating, and educator evaluation. Engage in conversation
and reflect on questions that can help your board support these
changes in your district.
LEADERSHIP AND TRUST: THE
FOUNDATION FOR EFFECTIVE
Leadership and trust are elements critical to the effective
implementation of any initiatives introduced in a school district. The
IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATOR
EFFECTIVENESS, COMMON CORE,
AND BALANCED ASSESSMENT
recent flurry of programs including Educator Effectiveness, the
Common Core Standards, and Smarter Balanced Assessment are
challenging the skills of leadership personnel across the state.
This session will provide guidance for the successful implementation,
from a board member perspective, of these programs premised on
proven methods for building support and acceptance among staff and
the community. The “take-aways” from this session will be focused on
school board governance and leadership in an educational
environment of rapid change and increased public accountability.
PUPIL RECORDS
This presentation covers state and federal laws relating to the
maintenance and release of pupil records. The U.S. Department of
Education has recently adopted new Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations. We will cover the basics of the pupil
records law and focus on limitations to the release of pupil records and
on recent changes in the law.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE: THE EXPULSION This program provides a basic review of the legal standards, school
PROCESS
board authority for student expulsion and the procedural requirements
for the expulsion.
PERSONAL MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACTS
This presentation covers all aspects of administrator contracts,
including the drafting of contracts, contract term, application of section
118.24 Wis. Stat. to administrator nonrenewals and more.
AFTER THE REDUCTION IN FORCE
Reducing staff requires special attention to board policies, handbook
provisions, nonrenewal timelines and procedures, and individual
contract language. However, the process does not end with the
effective date of the separation from employment. This presentation
will give an overview of a district’s continuing obligations to its
employees after a separation from employment, and will specifically
address seniority and recall rights (if any), unemployment
compensation, and COBRA.
ALTERNATIVE COMPENSATION
SYSTEMS
What are schools in Wisconsin and other states doing to change
teacher pay? This presentation will examine pay systems in Wisconsin
and other communities across the country, describing how those pay
systems work and providing evaluative data on those systems where
available.
AVOIDING PROHIBITED PRACTICES
The Municipal Employment Relations Act prohibits several types of
employer and union misconduct, including discrimination, anti-union
activity, refusals to bargain and violations of a collective bargaining
agreement. This presentation will cover basic strategies for avoiding
prohibited practice complaints and review the prohibited practice
hearing process, should a complaint be filed.
BARGAINING FOLLOWING
ACT 10
While Act 10 has substantially changed and limited collective
bargaining in Wisconsin, it has not completely eliminated bargaining.
The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission has issued new
rules governing the calculation of base wage increases. This session
will review board bargaining and other obligations following Act 10.
EMPLOYEE EVALUATION POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES
While many school districts are no longer subject to just cause
requirements for teacher nonrenewal, an effective evaluation process
is critical to avoiding discrimination complaints and other challenges to
teacher nonrenewal. This presentation will review the steps needed to
design and implement an effective evaluation system.
STATUTORY EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURES
2011 Wisconsin Act 10 gives all school employees a set of procedural
protections by requiring schools to adopt a statutory grievance
process. This presentation will analyze the law’s requirements and
discuss implementation and use of the grievance process.
EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES AND
COMPLAINTS
It is wise to deal with grievances and complaints correctly within the
time limits. We will educate you about grievance systems, the statutory
grievance procedure, and disrminiation and harassment.
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS,
EMPLOYMENT POLICIES AND
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK RULES
Employment policies, work rules and procedures used to be governed
by collective bargaining agreements for most school employees. This
presentation discusses recommended content, including a grievance
procedure.
EMPLOYEE PRIVACY ISSUES
Employee privacy and confidentiality issues confront school district
officials on a regular basis. School district officials must be able to
recognize those situations where they have a duty to maintain
employee confidentiality or situations where the law precludes them
from uncovering certain information. This presentation will examine
employment situations where an employee's privacy interests may be
implicated and is designed to assist school district officials to react
appropriately to potential employee privacy issues.
EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO
EXTRACURRICULAR ASSIGNMENTS
This presentation will address the following commonly asked questions
regarding extracurricular assignments:
• How do you evaluate employees holding extra-curricular
assignments?
• What is the procedure for re-appointment, non-reappointment or
dismissal?
• Can you use volunteers?
• How do you compensate extra-curricular positions? Are you in
compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act?
• How do Title IX complaints affect extra-curricular positions?
EVALUATION - SUPERINTENDENT /
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR (ONE TO
TWO HOUR SESSION)
Leadership assessment is an integral part of any school district
progress assessment. An environment of continuous improvement
requires a developmental approach to evaluation. Evaluation of the
District Administrator / Superintendent has not been established under
the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness Model. However, school districts
need to be ready and informed, by setting a tone for executive
leadership evaluation. This session will provide some insights and
meaningful tips for school board members and school leaders to
enhance their existing evaluation system and prepare for future
changes.
Note: Additional sessions can be arranged to design a local
Superintendent/District Administrator evaluation system for your
school district.
THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT
Unions and employees will closely scrutinize overtime and minimum
wage compensation under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. This
presentation will cover the basic requirements of the Fair Labor
Standards Act and will focus on potential problems unions will seize
upon to challenge school payroll practices.
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE
The federal and Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Acts provide
overlapping and sometimes conflicting requirements allowing
employees leave for serious health conditions and the birth or adoption
of a child. This presentation will review the provisions of both laws and
give advice on responding to leave requests.
FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM
The America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 subjects
employers to new regulations of the health insurance they offer to their
employees. These rules can substantially increase employer costs if
not administered properly. This session will review the new law’s
requirements and recommend steps schools should take to control
their costs.
HARASSMENT
Recognizing and preventing harassment is part of creating a
productive working environment. Through this presentation you will
become informed about state and federal law, board policy and
administrative guidelines, and case law related to harassment. You will
learn how to protect yourself against charges of harassment.
This presentation will cover the basics of hiring, including job
descriptions, notices of vacancies, residency requirements,
applications, interviews, medical inquiries, background and reference
checks, offers of employment and more.
This presentation covers the basic information needed by an impartial
hearing officer, including grievance timelines, pre-hearing motions,
conducting the hearing and drafting the decision.
The elimination of collective bargaining by Act 10 elevates the
importance of individual teacher contracts, which may become similar
in content to administrator contracts. This presentation will focus on the
process of drafting new contractual provisions to transition from
traditional contracts to contracts that meet districts’ needs in the postcollective bargaining world.
How do you conduct an effective investigation of employee
misconduct? What are the contractual and legal pitfalls in an
investigation of employee misconduct? What is just cause and how do
you prove that you have it? Almost all union employees enjoy just
cause protection after a probationary period. Just cause sets a very
HIRING GUIDELINES
IMPARTIAL HEARING OFFICER
INDIVIDUAL TEACHER CONTRACTS
INVESTIGATING EMPLOYEE
MISCONDUCT
high standard for the investigation of employee misconduct. Missteps in
the investigation can derail an employment termination. This
presentation will address the investigation process step by step, with a
focus on the administration and board role and on due process
requirements. Investigation of misuse of school technology such as the
internet and email will be highlighted along with developments in
employee privacy rights and the application of the public records law to
records generated in an employee misconduct investigation.
JOB ACTIONS
How do you deliver quality instructional services if job actions, work
slowdowns, or working to contract occur? Learn your legal rights and
options for effectively addressing the job action and providing
educational opportunities for students in this environment.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Job descriptions are an integral part of a school district’s operations. In
addition to being legally required for certain staff members, they can
assist with the hiring, orientation, and evaluation of employees. This
presentation will cover characteristics of well-written job descriptions
and advice on drafting and revising them.
KEY PERSONNEL DECISIONS AFTER
This presentation will inform you about the important decisions made
HIRING
after hiring, including: transfer of employees, reduction of
staff/percentage of contract for employees under individual contracts,
employee handbooks and board policies including related state
requirements and EEOC advice. Information about Wisconsin and
federal laws related to employment discrimination will be included.
KEY WORK IN ACTION: STANDARDS,
In this interactive workshop, learn how you can use the Key Work
ASSESSMENT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY concepts to understand and prepare for the changes required by
Wisconsin’s new accountability system. Learn about Common Core,
InTASC, and ISLLC standards and how these form the foundation for
the state’s accountability system. Learn about the framework of that
system including SMARTER Balance assessments, the Accountability
Index and Rating, and educator evaluation. Engage in conversation
and reflect on questions that can help your board support these
changes in your district.
MANAGING SUPPORT STAFF
This presentation will discuss Act 10 and Act 32's impact on HR
PERSONNEL DECISIONS
management. You will learn how state and federal laws affect your
grievance procedures, handbooks, compensation, payroll practices,
fringe benefits and other conditions of employment.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY BY SCHOOL
Staff members periodically make their political views known during the
DISTRICT EMPLOYEES
school day and/or at school activities, and this presentation will help
administrators and board members balance their rights as employers
against employees’ rights to free expression.
PROHIBITED BASES OF EMPLOYMENT This presentation outlines prohibited bases of employment
DISCRIMINATION (STATE AND
discrimination under both state and federal law and recommends steps
FEDERAL)
to comply with relevant legal requirements.
PROTECTED AND UNPROTECTED
In Garcetti v. Ceballos, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a public
EMPLOYEE SPEECH
employee's speech that is undertaken pursuant to his/her official duties
is not protected by the First Amendment. Therefore, public employers,
including school districts, have substantial discretion to (1) determine
and establish expectations for the content and tone of such speech; (2)
factor such speech into performance evaluations; and (3) discipline
employees for violations of the employer's standards. This presentation
discusses how the federal courts (particularly within the Seventh Circuit
and/or in the school context) have applied Garcetti since that case was
decided in 2006.
SYSTEM CAPACITY, ADMINISTRATIVE This session will focus on task identification and school board
STRUCTURE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE
expectations as it relates to school system capacity to accomplish tasks
EFFECTIVENESS (ONE HOUR SESSION and its relationship to school administrative structure and leadership
WHICH COULD BE EXPANDED TO TWO effectiveness when dealing with staff and instructional improvement.
HOUR SESSION):
Note:Local school situations will be addressed, if desired, and the
session will then be two hours in length.
TEACHER ABSENTEEISM
Given the detrimental effect that teacher absences have on a school’s
financial situation and educational mission, school districts would be
wise to investigate ways to increase attendance. Accordingly, this
presentation covers research on (1) the effect of teacher absences on a
school district’s budget and student achievement and (2) initiatives that
school boards can implement to improve teacher attendance.
TEACHER CONTRACT NONRENEWAL
This presentation will review the basics of teacher nonrenewal under
section 118.22 of the Wisconsin Statutes and include guidance on the
application of constitutional protections and discrimination laws to the
teacher nonrenewal process. Also discussed are contractual just-cause
provisions, public records law and open meeting law as they relate to
the teacher nonrenewal process. Alternatives to nonrenewal will also
TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULES
be discussed.
While 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 eliminated most collective bargaining
requirements, districts must still negotiate with unions over total basewage increases. This presentation will review proposed Wisconsin
Employment Relations Commission rules on bargaining base-wage
increases under Act 10 and discuss modifications to teacher salary
schedules under those rules.
BOARD OPERATIONS AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE
Are you new to the school board or new to an administrative role? Do you have
SOURCES AND STRUCTURE OF some basic questions about the sources and structure of the state and federal
WISCONSIN SCHOOL LAW
laws that apply to school districts? This free webinar will provide an
introductory foundation which facilitate your ability to understand references to
legal provisions and on which you will be able to build your content knowledge
in the future.
ARE YOU READY FOR A
REFERENDUM? PART 1:
FACILITIES AND FINANCIAL
ASSESSMENTS
It is a board’s obligation to conduct an objective assessment and analysis
resulting in long-term, fiscally responsible operational, financial and facility
plans. This session will present models to assist school board members in
understanding the financial state of their districts and their facilities.
ARE YOU READY FOR A
REFERENDUM? PART 2:
FACILITIES AND FINANCIAL
PLANS
Drawing from needs assessments, academic and strategic plans,
comprehensive facility assessments and financial assessments, districts need
to establish the framework for implementing its goals and objectives of the
district. This will include identifying priorities, time lines, relationships, costs,
and a process to continually update the plan. This session will pull the planning
work together and outline a strategic operational, financial and facilities plan.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND
INCOMPATIBILITY OF OFFICE
FOR SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS
Wisconsin law prohibits board members from having a private interest in public
contracts and from using their office to obtain anything of substantial value.
The law also prohibits board members from holding positions that are
incompatible with service on a school board. These laws have significant
implications for board members who work for entities contracting with school
districts and for board members married to school employees. Can a school
employee serve on a school board? Can a board member be a volunteer
coach? Staff will address these questions and more in this presentation.
DATA FIRST—
FOUNDATIONS 1
Learn simple practices to effectively organize and present data to your board
and your public. This workshop will also review key questions to ask any time
data are in front of you. You will do hands-on exercises to put the principles
into practice. Core concepts come from Data First for Governance, a researchbased, board-tested workshop series developed by the Center for Public
Education and the National School Boards Association.
DATA FIRST—
FOUNDATIONS 2
This course builds on the Foundations 1 information by helping board members
learn what decisions and actions are needed after considering data. Data isn’t
a trend, it’s a necessity, and boards must be able to use data to determine the
effectiveness of their work and the progress being made to impact
achievement. School funding, state and federal mandates and community
support all demand high levels of accountability using data.
FINANCIAL ROLES AND
The Financial Roles and Responsibilities of School Boards Workshop
RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL Provides an overview of key areas of school district budgeting for school board
BOARDS
members, including relevant statutes, the budgeting process, effective and
efficient resource utilization, and community participation.
LEGAL ROLES AND
The Legal Roles and Responsibilities of School Boards Workshop
RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL Provides an overview of key areas of Wisconsin law, including open meetings,
BOARDS
public records, conflicts of interest, liability and risk management, and a
board’s power and duties.
MASTER PLANNING AND
STRATEGIC THINKING
In order to perform at high levels, school districts need a written plan that
embodies community values, educational best practices and an unrelenting
focus on student learning. This written plan can be achieved through
systematic, comprehensive, and analytical processes. The WASB master
planning process by defining the elements of stakeholder-driven strategic
planning, facilities assessment, and financial assessment
REFERENDUMS: LEGAL AND
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
This session will address legal issues, policies, procedures and timing of
referenda. It will include use of district funds and resources, roles of the board,
individual board members and staff, and interactions with third-party groups,
e.g. “vote yes,” “vote no.”
ROLES AND
This series of presentations is valuable to all board members. Each
RESPONSIBILITIES–
BOARD MEMBERS AND
OFFICERS
presentation discusses the specific roles of each board office.
SCHOOL BOARD POLICY
DEVELOPMENT –
INTRODUCTION
Along with the strategic plan, the budget, the district administrator’s contract
and evaluation, a school board’s policies are among the key documents
through which a school board governs the district. Board policies embody and
document many of the board’s significant decisions and expectations, and they
provide the guides and the framework within which district employees operate
as they approach their work and the day-to-day issues that call for the exercise
of discretion. This session, which includes several "hands on" exercises for the
participants, will orient new board members to the important work of policy
development, address best practices, and highlight WASB resources that are
available to assist school boards and administrators with their policy-related
responsibilities.
UNDERSTANDING RULES OF
ORDER AND RELATED
PROCEDURES FOR BOARD
MEETINGS
Formal parliamentary procedure can be a dense maze of cumbersome and
arcane rules, and, in some cases, can actually interfere with running effective
and efficient board meetings. At the same time, whether established in written
policy or through practices that have developed over time, all school boards
need and have some local "rules of order" for their meetings. This session
identifies the advantages of establishing a defined and mutually understood set
of core meeting procedures, including procedures for making and seconding
motions, amending and withdrawing motions, using and documenting
"unanimous consent," postponing consideration of agenda items, procedures
for “undoing” or revisiting motions that were already voted upon. The
presentation will also identify a number of issues on which state law
establishes specific procedural or voting requirements. This session can be run
as a workshop for a single school board with the goals of drafting an updated
board policy to address rules of order and improving each board member's
own understanding of particular meeting procedures.
USING POLICY TO MANAGE
COMPLAINTS
This presentation addresses how an understanding of and coordination among
a school district's various complaint policies and procedures can help the
school board and the administration resolve complaints more effectively.
THE WISCONSIN OPEN
MEETINGS LAW
Open Meeting Law questions are commonly received by WASB Legal Services
staff. This presentation will cover the basics of the Open Meeting Law, with
emphasis on how the Open Meeting Law changes the way boards talk about
employee handbooks as compared to meeting in closed session to discuss
collective bargaining strategies.
THE WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RECORDS LAW
This presentation will review basic public records law requirements with a focus
on responding to records requests
ADVOCACY AND SCHOOL-COMMUNITY RELATIONS
FOCUSED
CONVERSATIONS AND
THE LADDER OF
INFERENCES
Board meetings can drag on-and-on when issues get contentious. In this workshop,
you will learn how to use the Ladder of Inference to understand the different
perspectives that may exist among your board members and community. You will
learn how to construct questions that uncover assumptions and beliefs, concepts that
lie at the heart of many of our disagreements. When we uncover assumptions, we
often find that there is less disagreement than we might have originally thought.
KEY WORK IN ACTION:
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
Our publics are expecting that we do more than simply communicate TO them; they
want to provide feedback that gets used. This workshop will cover a Key Work
component, community engagement. Learn about engagement tools that you can use
to plan events that are more likely to get you the information that you need and give
participants the opportunity to provide meaningful feedback. Understanding your
board’s commitment to engagement, creating powerful questions, and planning an
event that provides a space for dialogue are a few of the concepts covered in this
workshop.
LEADERSHIP AS
COMMUNICATION
The complexity of the problems we face requires a leadership style that is very
different than what worked in the past. Today, effective leadership is grounded in
communication and strong relationships. This workshop outlines key communication
dynamics of effective leadership and provides time to practice communication tools to
take back and use in your district.
LISTENING AND ASKING
QUESTIONS
Proficient listening skills are essential to a successful working relationship because
they reduce misunderstandings and contribute to teamwork and constructive conflict
management. A spirit of inquiry, rather than advocacy, can also help you use conflict
effectively. In this workshop you will learn how to identify obstacles to effective
listening and improve your listening skills. You will also learn how to use questions to
focus your conversations and understand how to communicate constructively to
create productive relationships and building strong schools
MESSAGING: IF YOU
DON'T TELL YOUR
STORY, WHO WILL?
In the grand marketplace of ideas, public school supporters too often let others
provide messages about our schools. Do you have a district strategy to get important
messages to your community? In this upbeat, interactive workshop, learn how to craft
a message about your district, the different ways to get it out, and identifying
community partners to publicly support your message—and more.