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VSBA Around Vermont
The VSBA is happy to report that Laura Soares, former VSBA Board president and current Randolph Elementary Board chair, has been hired to provide additional consulting and field services to districts around the state. Laura brings a great deal of skill, experience, and creativity in clarifying leadership roles and responsibilities, implementing Policy Governance systems, and facilitating general board development activities for the VSBA.
Welcome aboard, Laura.
Governance Initiatives
The VSBA has submitted a governance study proposal to the Windsor Northwest SU for funding consideration. The SU is exploring options for dealing with the impact of declining enrollment and increasing costs in the Bethel, Rochester, Pittsfield, Granville and Hancock School Districts.
I continue to facilitate a phase I governance study in the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union. This study is looking facility and program issues for the Whitingham, Wilmington, and Halifax School Districts.
We have contracted with Laura Soares to help facilitate a governance study with Underhill, Underhill I.D., and Jericho School Districts.
I facilitated a Peacham community forum as they consider the future of their small school.
Policy Governance
Laura is facilitating a Policy Governance implementation process with the Hartford School District and has been providing follow-up Policy Governance support for the Washington South SU.
From the Board Room spoke recently with Orleans Southwest co-Superintendent Dave Ford about how PG has worked in Hazen Union High School, where it was implemented over the last several years. He told us, "Policy Governance has worked to build organizational trust. It sharpens the focus of the school board to meet the direction of the school, with zero micromanagement and high board satisfaction. We had no board turnover in the most recent election." Ford also pointed out that other boards within his supervisory union are now considering adopting PG for their own district.
PG is a specific system of accountability between the superintendent and the board designed to avoid leadership conflicts. For more information on how PG can help clarify roles and responsibilities between the school board, school administrators, and the electorate in your district, contact the VSBA (223-3580).
Superintendent Searches
The VSBA has contracted with Southwest Vermont, Washington West, and Franklin Central Supervisory Unions to begin superintendent searches.
The average superintendent salary this year is $101,000. Vermont finally broke the six-figure mark.
Strategic Planning
I met with the Barnet School Board and submitted a proposal to train a cadre of facilitators from the Caledonia Central SU who will in turn be prepared to facilitate strategic planning processes in their respective districts.
VSBA/VSA Annual Conference
We will be compiling conference evaluation data on the conference later this month.
Attendance Numbers:
Thurs. - 100 board members and 75 administrators
Friday - 119 board members and 74 superintendents
Total overall board member attendance - 121
Superintendent Evaluation DVD
The new superintendent evaluation DVD has just been completed and is ready for sale to school leaders. Board members who contributed time and expertise to the board development DVD are June Rosenberg - North Country UHS, Jane Low - Mt. Abraham UHS, and Laura Soares - Randolph Elementary; superintendents, Bob McNamara - Washington West and John Everitt - South Burlington, presented administrator’s views on CEO evaluation in this timely electronic resource. Order your copy today from the VSBA web site at www.vtvsba.org
I presented a superintendent evaluation and board self-assessment workshop to the Windsor Southwest SU Board on December 4th. This workshop is a follow-up component included as part of all VSBA superintendent search contracts.
