As a point of information for the list and other interested parties, the
Minneapolis Schol Board is ahead of the pack on this item! We spend time
in the spring exploring different models of governance and decided to
embark on the Carver based model of Policy Governance. In August we had a
rigorous and very sucessful retreat to receive training on this method of
operation as a Board. It is still in development and will be unveiled to
district staff and the community later this year. It is very exciting as
it really changes the way we conduct business.
The most recent issue of Education Weekly has a front page article that
describes many states' laws governing the operation of School Boards as
inviting micromanagement by Boards and muddying the waters between
Superintendent and Board roles. This state is not immune. We are a
special purpose government, as compared to, say the City Council, which is
constituent service based. Our role as Trustees of the Public Schools is
to connect with the community, look to the future and set policy
accordingly. We are very fortunate to have one of the best
Superintendent's in the country (and probably the world). Now is the time
to untertake this, and I am happy to report we are doing just that!
Audrey D. Johnson
Minneapolis School Board Director
10th Ward Lowry Hill East (the Wedge)
At 11:26 AM 9/28/00 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>A national report came out last week calling for a reshaping of local school
>boards, recommending a sharper definition of roles/responsibilities and
state
>laws to limit micromanaging...essentially limiting the board role to policy
>making and long-range planning.
>
>I know school politics is not a high priority among list members
>here�although, hey, it's still 40-plus percent of your property taxes until
>Jesse works out an alternative�so if any members would like to fiddle with
>those ideas as they might touch the Minneapolis board, please send an e-mail
>directly to me and maybe we can arrange a short-lifed discussion subgroup.
>
>Dennis Schapiro
>Linden Hills
>
>
