Edmonds School District No. 15
Lynnwood, WA 98036-5789
1800 - EVALUATION OF SCHOOL BOARD OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
Adopted
2/3/75
Revised
9/12/77
12/5/77
12/2/85
9/8/93
It is the policy of Edmonds School District that members of the Board of Directors take on the difficult but crucially important task of grading themselves and the Board on which they serve. The primary purpose of this assessment is the improvement of Board leadership.
Further, an instrument providing for dual evaluation by the superintendent and all members of the superintendent's cabinet, as well as by Board members, will be used as one of the means of providing a meaningful answer to the question, "How are we doing?" Dual evaluation acknowledges the Board's close working relationship with the administrative staff and the fact the Board's actions or inaction can significantly affect the effectiveness of the administrative team. The Board and superintendent shall work toward the development of a spirit of teamwork and understanding among all members of the administrative team.
Guideposts
An effective program of evaluation contains many essential features. The
following conditions are crucial to evaluation that has as its primary
purpose the improvement of school Board leadership.
- Board members should be involved in the development of the standards against which they will evaluate themselves, or accept previously developed standards as appropriate to their current operations.
- The evaluation should be a composite of the individual Board members' opinions.
- The evaluation should include an assessment of strengths as well as weaknesses.
- The evaluation should be conducted in January and during the annual Board-cabinet work conference in May or June.
- The Board should not limit itself to those items which appear on the evaluation form. No form or set of guidelines could encompass the totality of a school Board's responsibilities.
- Each judgment should be supported by as much rationale and objective evidence as possible.
Performance Objectives
When the Board has received the composite profiles from the self-evaluation
and administrative staff evaluation, the members will then formulate a
series of objectives for the ensuing year. These objectives will be stated
in measurable terms.
Individual Self-Improvement Responsibility
Continuous study should go on to improve the functioning of the Board.
Numerous handbooks and printed materials are available to guide school
Board members in the efficient discharge of their duties. The state and
national school board associations publish excellent materials which are
also available to each director through the superintendent.
Participation in school board association meetings affords an excellent opportunity for members to express themselves and to learn about school board operation by observing other directors in action, hearing presentations of experts, participating in group study sessions, and sharing experiences with other directors. Each Board member accepts the responsibility of self-assessment as well as participating in group assessment. Each Board member accepts the responsibility for a program of study and participation aimed at continuous improvement of his/her contribution to the overall effectiveness of the Board.