Do We Really Need a Board?

By Rick Herman, Wheat Ridge Ministries
As reprinted from the November 21, 2001 issue of “On Board”

    Do you ever wonder whether the efforts of your school board make a difference?  Are your board’s efforts ever criticized?  Does this criticism bother you? 

     During a recent meeting of Lutheran school administrators, a participant was overheard sharing frustrations about his school board.  A colleague nodded in agreement and wondered aloud whether all the work she invested in working with her board was worth it.  Their interest was immediately heightened when yet another administrator joined the conversation and told the others that her school is operating without a school board because congregation leaders saw no need for it.

     Many Lutheran school board members would be very surprised to hear such comments.  Why are boards the subject of such criticism?  Why is a board’s value sometimes questioned? What can be done to build value?

WHY ARE BOARDS VALUABLE?

     There are a number of specific ways that boards are valuable to an organization:

Accountability and trust—Boards are responsible for insisting on accountability within the organization to assure that the mission is being pursued and that high standards of ethics are maintained.

Transparency—Since boards are comprised of people who are part of the “ownership” of the organization, their presence assures that the organization’s activities are carried out in the public view.

Diversity and Balance—The varied backgrounds, skills and experiences of board members bring value to the organization.

Advocacy—Effective board members believe deeply in the mission of the organization they serve.

Gathering Resources—Board members help open new networks of people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to hear and respond to the organization’s story.

 BUILDING THE VALUE OF YOUR BOARD

     As a Lutheran school board or committee member, you invest significant time and energy on behalf of your school.  You want your efforts to make a difference—to be of value in achieving your school’s mission.  Here are some things you can do to help ensure that your board’s efforts continue to bring value to the school ministry:

Recruit quality board members—The value of your board depends on the quality of its members.  Place priority on identifying and recruiting people of integrity, who understand and support the mission of the school and who put the success of the school ahead of personal interests.

Clearly define roles and goals—For your board to be effective, members must understand the boad’s role and how it relates to other boards of the congregation as well as to the school administrator.  Armed with this information, your board can develop specific goals to guide its activities, thus keeping its efforts focused and valuable to the school’s success.

Advocacy—A significant value you and your board bring to the school ministry is your ability to advocate on its behalf.  Find ways to help educate congregation and community leaders about the mission of the school and what is needed to achieve the mission.  Invest time in building cooperation among school, congregation, and community leaders in order to address the needs of the school.

Personal Support—Hand in hand with advocacy is demonstrating personal support for the school.  Be visible at school events, speak well of the school administrator and faculty, volunteer at school events, and contribute to school fund-raising efforts.

Care for the school administrator—Your school administrator is, arguably, your school’s most important single asset.  Your board is of great value to the school community when it maintains a positive relationship with the administrator and when it demonstrates care and concern for the health and wellness of this key leader.

Be a model faith community—Your board has a wonderful opportunity to model faith-based leadership in a way you carry out your work.  Take time to care for one another, to pray together and to seek God’s help in listening, discerning and making wise decisions.  Doing so makes your board a valuable model to the congregation and community.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  The above is a condensed article from “On Board”, a member benefit of ELEA schools and centers.  When you receive “On Board”, please photocopy it and provide it to your School Board Chairperson for distribution to all board members.  Many administrators keep past issues in a 3-ring binder so they can pull out information when questions and concerns with their boards arise.  Also enclosed with “On Board” is “Ask For It”, a fundraising guide for administrators and boards.  Take time to read and distribute!

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