Governing Board Manual for Lutheran Schools

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Governing Board Manualfor Lutheran Schools

• A Best Practice Model for
• Administrators and Boards
• LCMS District Congregational Services - School
  Ministry
• Northern Illinois District February 19, 2005

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Todays Agenda

• Introductions
• Board Roles
• Policy Manual
• Policies
• Procedures
• Your Issues
• Board Meetings (if time permits)

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The Board Manual Resource

• A Web Based Resource
• www.lcms.org/?1776.
• Also at LSP at National tab
• Chapter 10 contains sample policies also LSP and
  LEA
• Provided by a grant from Thrivent Financial for
  Lutherans

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Board Roles
Describe the ideal board member. What are the 4/5
most important things a board does? Go to
Chapter 4.
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Essential Board Functions
1. Maintain a Focus on the Future 2. Strategic
Planning 3. Policy Development 4. Financial
Development 5. Building Relationships
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School Board Policy Manual

• Policies and Procedures

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The Need . . .

• All schools need a policy manual
• Lutheran schools need policies that are
  consistent with Scripture and the teachings of
  our church body.

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The Need . . .

• Administrators seek resources for policy and
  board development.
• Clear and concise policies lead to
• a student-centered school
• a focus on the educational process
• a focus on the schools mission.

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The Need . . .

• Good policy development allows an administrator
  to lead effectively.
• Good policy development establishes a clear line
  of authority.

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Where do we start?

• Many schools have a policy manual.
• Many schools have some policies.
• All schools should know how to evaluate existing
  policies.
• All schools should know how to draft new policies.

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What is a Policy (Board) Manual?

• A policy manual is a key tool for the school
  administrator in the successful operation of the
  school
• A policy manual is a collection of policies that
  govern and guide the operation of the school
• AND THE SCHOOL BOARD

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What is a Policy (Board) Manual?

• A policy manual outlines procedures necessary to
  create or revise existing policies.
• Policy manuals may contain procedures created by
  the administrator to carry out policies.

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Your issues

• Think about a current issue confronting your
  board.
• Write it out
• Share with whole group and clarify
• Policy or procedure?

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Policy or Procedure?

• Manuals must clearly indicate and reflect the
  difference between policies and procedures!

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What is the difference?

• A policy states what should be done or not done.
• A procedure tells how a policy will be carried
  out.

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Other differences?

• Boards adopt policies.
• Administrators design procedures to carry out the
  policies.
• Boards govern by policy.
• Administrators manage in accord with policies.

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Characteristics of Policies

• Drafted by administrator
• Adopted by board
• Deals with the future (rather than a present
  crisis)
• Answers a question before it is asked
• Directs the staff

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Characteristics of Procedures

• Tells how policies are carried out
• Decided by the administrator
• Reported to the board
• Communicated to constituents

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A sample policy . . .

• All accounts are to be current. Accounts that are
  not current, within a specified time limit,
  require student expulsion.

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Now the procedure . . .

• All family account balances will be reported to
  parents monthly.
• Accounts one month in arrears will receive a form
  letter of concern from the school office. The
  letter will request contact with the principal if
  unusual financial conditions exist.

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More procedures . . .

• Accounts two months in arrears will receive a
  telephone call from the school office requesting
  a meeting with the administrator. During the
  meeting, a letter will be delivered stating that
  the account must be paid within 30 days to avoid
  expulsion.

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And more . . .

• One week before expulsion, the principal and a
  designee shall contact the family to review the
  consequences . . . and offer to extend the time
  limit . . . if there is a documented financial
  need.

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A reminder . . .

• The policy statement is adopted by the board.
• Procedures are prepared and implemented by the
  administrator.
• Wise administrators review procedures with the
  board and seek their input while retaining final
  responsibility for the process.

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Generating Policy
What about your issue? Go to Chapter 1. Walk
through the 9 steps of A Process for Revising or
Establishing Policies.
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Clarifying the Need

• Find Clarify the Need A Checklist
• Subject your issue to the checklist
• Does it need a policy?

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Can the Manual help?

• Browse the Table of Contents
• Browse the Chapters
• Click on a possibility
• Browse the sub topics
• If at first you dont succeed . . .

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Back to your issue

• Share your policy.
• Group reaction

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Board MeetingsSee Chapter 5 Board
Meetings Agenda Following the Meeting
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Comments?

• William Cochran
• Director
• LCMS District Congregational
• Services -- School Ministry
• bill.cochran_at_lcms.org

• Ed Grube
• Director of Publications Communications
• Lutheran Education Association
• ed.grube_at_lea.org