Welcome New Board Members!

Dr. Carter Ward, MSBA Executive Director

I want to extend a warm welcome to those of you recently elected to your local school board for the first time. You are joining nearly 3,700 other citizens throughout the state who volunteer their time as members of their local boards of education. Serving on a school board is, without question, an investment of time and energy. Most board members agree, however, that the personal satisfaction they gain far outweighs the challenges associated with the job. Thank you for your commitment to this most worthwhile form of community service. Here are some resources that may assist you as you begin your service on your local board of education:

New Board Member Training

• State Required New Board Member Training letter
• MSBA's Certified Board Member Certification Program
• New Board Member Training Schedule (June 2013 through March 2014)

 New Board Member Resources

• A Few Basics of Board Service
• Foundational Principles of Effective Governance
• Suggestions for New Board Member Orientation
• Common Educational Abbreviations and Acronyms
• How to Get a Password for Member-Only Information on the MSBA Website

Events

• MSBA has a variety of board development events throughout the year

Conflict of Interest

• Nepotism 
• Conflict of Interest
• Conflict of Interest Chart

Confidentiality

• Confidentiality
• U.S. Department of Education FERPA Guide

Sunshine Law

• Sunshine Law & Electronic Messages 
• Sunshine Law Outline
• Sunshine Law Checklist
• Responding to a Sunshine Law request
• Contents of the Minutes
• Sunshine Law: Open or Closed?

Elections

• A Candidate's Guide to Running for the School Board
• Board Reorganization FAQ
• Oath of Office
• Secretary of State's Election Calendar

Board Member Ethics

• Ethics Policy

Tenure & Hiring

• Hiring Chart
• Taming the Teacher Tenure Act
• Making Tough Personnel Decisions Outline