Effective Board Communication

School Boards must have correct information to govern well.This doesn’t happen by accident!  Many Boards complain (to their consultant) that their Head of School doesn’t provide the information they need and they want to explore other strategies to obtain information.

While alternate strategies to be in tune with the school’s reality are important, including having linkage with “moral owners,” being well-informed by the Head about what really matters to the Board must be the priority.  Many Heads complain (to their consultant) that they are obliged to discern what the Board wants to know, and they craft their reports to align with what they determine is important and of interest to the Board.

There is a better way!  Highly functioning Boards start by establishing policies that delineate what information they require and when making their expectations clear.  While all Boards don’t follow the Carver Policy Governance® model, it is a valuable resource in addressing this topic, as policy constructed according to the model establishes clear parameters for the Head’s communication with the Board.

Some of the most important policy statements about communication require that the Head maintain the Board aware of all important developments in the school through timely, accurate, and understandable reports.  By policy, the Head should be obliged to provide relevant facts and information that the Board needs to remain informed about both internal and external factors that affect the school’s operation.  Furthermore, policy should oblige the Head to report on operational compliance with governance policy, attainment of the school’s intended impact (i.e., Ends), pertinent information regarding its operation, and even on relevant trends in the broader educational community with implications for the school and its operation.

The immediate response of Boards (to their consultant) is that this isn’t enough, which is true, but it’s the best place to start, as typically it is much more than the Board’s current practice.  Boards must require a steady flow of information intentionally responsive to their established expectations, with supporting data when appropriate.  With this strategy, Heads know what is expected and can tailor their communication to what matters to their Board.

​Blessings,
David Wells