Policy Type: Governance Process
Policy Title: Governing Style
Date Adopted: June 13, 2019
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2023
Date Amended: November 17, 2023
The Board will govern lawfully, with an emphasis on:
- Outward vision rather than internal preoccupation;
- Encouragement of diversity in viewpoints;
- Strategic leadership rather than administrative detail;
- Clear distinction of Board and Superintendent roles;
- Collective, rather than individual decisions;
- Future; and
- Pro-activity.
- The Board will cultivate a sense of group responsibility. The Board, solely, will be responsible for excellence in governing. The Board will be the initiator of governance policies. The expertise of individual members may be used to enhance the understanding of the Board; however, the Board will not use the expertise of individual members to substitute for the judgment of the Board as a whole,
- The Board will direct, control, and inspire the organization through the careful establishment of broad written policies reflecting the Board's values and perspectives about Ends to be achieved and Means to be avoided. The Board's major policy focus will be on the intended long-term external impacts of the organization.
- The Board will enforce upon itself whatever discipline is needed to govern with excellence. Discipline will apply to matters such as attendance, preparation for meetings, policy-making principles, respect of roles, and ensuring continuance of governance capability. Although the Board can change its governance process policies at any time, it will scrupulously observe those currently in force.
- Continual Board development will include orientation of new members in the Board's governance process and annual Board discussion of process improvement.
- The Board will monitor and discuss the Board's process and performance at each meeting. Self-monitoring will include comparison of Board activity and discipline to policies in the Governance Process and Board-Superintendent Delegation categories.
- The Board will not allow any officer, individual or committee of the Board to hinder or be an excuse for not fulfilling group obligations.
GP 1 - Global Governance Process | GP 2b - Board Job Description