Characteristics of an Effective Governing Board Member

By Duane Dishno

A brief description of the role of a Governing Board and the role of an individual Trustee.

The role of an individual member of the Board is to participate as one of five Trustees in discussions and decisions related to the duties noted above. An individual member of the the Board has no authority other than when sitting in an officially-called, public meeting of the five-member Governing Board. Trustees must be visible and accessible to the community, must spend time in each of the schools, should maintain professional associations, and must represent the aspirations of parents and the community in educational decisions affecting students.