As superintendents and staff develop plans to reopen schools this fall, board members are beginning to ask just what the school board’s role in the process is. What requires board approval? What doesn’t?

Best practice would be to establish a process for developing the plan that includes briefing the board (verbally or in writing) about the proposed plan, getting stakeholder feedback on the proposals and formally presenting the plan to the board for approval. Many components of reopening plans will require explicit board action so it is critical the board understands how the components work together to achieve the board-superintendent team’s goals for the system.

Questions for the board to consider

The superintendent should review with the board both the plan and the stakeholder feedback that has been gathered. The review should allow time for board questions and thorough discussion. Questions for the board to consider (which also could entail future board action) when reviewing the plan include:

• Does the plan call for the provision of new services or learning options to students?
• Does it require creation of additional positions such as teachers, nurses or janitors?
• Does it require major purchases such as new technology or equipment?
• Will it change school operating hours?
• Will employees’ schedules or work hours change?
• What other costs should be anticipated such as overtime or multiple deep cleanings?
• What new policies will be needed for new programs and requirements such as wearing masks?
• What policies should be amended for the new health standards (for example, for school visitors) or that would otherwise give administrators more flexibility?
• Will employees need to be transferred or reassigned?
• Will money need to be reallocated within the budget to fund this plan?
• How will decisions be made about the closure of schools or the system?
• What is the communication plan for students, staff and the community … including the inevitable changes.

All of these are issues that require some level of board engagement if not approval.

Boards should keep in mind it is not the board’s role to develop the plan or substitute its judgment for the administration’s. The board sets direction with the superintendent, but the superintendent and staff develop and carry out the plans. Thus, the board’s oversight role is to consider whether the plan is well thought out, affordable and addresses the anticipated issues. Board approval signals all these are true and gives the superintendent and staff clearance to move forward.

Monitoring progress

Once the plan has been implemented, the board role shifts to monitoring implementation and outcomes by receiving regular updates answering:

• Is implementation going as planned? Have there been any surprises?
• Have costs been as anticipated? Is the plan on budget?
• Does the plan need any changes?
• What is stakeholder feedback?
• Are we meeting learning benchmarks and how do we know?

These questions enable to hold the system accountable and ensure that problems are addressed.