The Effective School Board Member
The bi-weekly newsletter for people who care about school boards becoming intensely focused on improving student outcomes.
Goal Alignment, Public Participation, & Athletics
QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
Question: What are some things I can ask during budget meetings to find out if the budget from the superintendent is aligned to the goals we adopted? -- Board Member in Virginia
TESBM: Congrats on having board-adopted Goals! Many school boards haven't taken full o...
May 27, 2025
Onboarding, Goal Monitoring, & Strategic Planning
QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
Question: After the election, we have mostly new board members. How do you onboard new board members? -- Board Member in Texas
TESBM: First, don't wait for people to join the board to train them. Preboarding beats onboarding: the more training you provide to community m...
May 13, 2025
Assessment Data, Community Listening, & External Investigations
QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
Question: Why do you all tell school boards that they have to use state assessment data for their goals? -- Board Member in Arizona
TESBM: That is not our coaching. Never has been, never will be. Not because we oppose state assessments, but because it's not our call...
Apr 29, 2025
Public Comments, Board Materials, & Teen Voting
Welcome to The Effective School Board Member. You ask tough questions and twice per month we get nationally certified school board coaches to provide answers. We include resources to help school board members become more effective, like readings and school board meeting analysis.
UESTIONS AND...
Apr 15, 2025
Professional Services, Board Information, & Consent Agendas
Welcome to The Effective School Board Member. You ask tough questions and twice per month we get nationally certified school board coaches to provide answers. We also include resources to help school board members become more effective, like readings and school board meeting analysis.
QUESTIO...
Apr 01, 2025
Time Use, Teambuilding, & Agenda Setting
Welcome to The Effective School Board Member. You ask tough questions and twice per month we get nationally certified school board coaches to provide answers. We include resources to help school board members become more effective, like readings and school board meeting analysis.
QUESTIONS AN...
Mar 18, 2025
Policy Violations, Book Bans, & Fake Social Media Accounts
Welcome to The Effective School Board Member. You ask tough questions and twice per month we get nationally certified school board coaches to provide answers. We include resources to help school board members become more effective, like readings and school board meeting analysis.
QUESTIONS AN...
Mar 04, 2025
Superintendent Search, Board Meeting Times, & NAEP
Welcome to The Effective School Board Member. You ask tough questions and twice per month we get nationally certified school board coaches to provide answers. We include resources to help school board members become more effective, like readings and school board meeting analysis.
QUESTIONS AN...
Feb 18, 2025
Officer Selection, Board Member Conflicts, & Dividing the District
Welcome to The Effective School Board Member. You ask tough questions and twice per month we get nationally certified school board coaches to provide answers. We include resources to help school board members become more effective, like readings and school board meeting analysis.
QUESTIONS AN...
Feb 04, 2025
Appropriate Number of Goals, Budget Votes, & Unauthorized Expenditures
Welcome to The Effective School Board Member. You ask tough questions and twice per month we get nationally certified school board coaches to provide answers. We include resources to help school board members become more effective, like readings and school board meeting analysis.
QUESTIONS AND ...
Jan 21, 2025
