Governing Style
The Board will govern with emphasis on organizational vision rather than on interpersonal issues of the Board; encourage diversity in viewpoints; focus on strategic leadership rather than administrative detail; observe clear distinction between Board and Superintendent Roles; make collective rather than individual decisions; exhibit future orientation rather than past or present; and govern proactively rather than re-actively.
Accordingly:
1. The Board will cultivate a sense of group responsibility. The Board will work in partnership with the Superintendent, staff, students, parents and the community. The Board, not the Superintendent or staff, will be responsible for excellence in governing. The Board will use the expertise of individual Board members to enhance the ability of the Board as a body, but will not substitute individual judgments for the Board’s collective values.
2. The Board will hold itself accountable to govern with excellence. This self-discipline will apply to matters such as attendance, preparation for meetings, policymaking principles, respect of roles and ensuring the continuity of governance capability.
3. The Board will direct, control and inspire the district through the careful establishment of written policies reflecting the Board’s values and perspectives. The Board’s major policy focus will be on the intended long-term benefits for students, not on the administrative or programmatic means of attaining those benefits.
4. Continuous Board development will include orientation of new members in the Board’s governance process and periodic Board discussion and evaluation of process to assure continued improvement.
5. The Board will allow no officer, individual or committee of the Board to hinder or be an excuse for not fulfilling its commitments.
6. The Board will monitor 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 Relationship categories.
7. The Board will make no decision without full consideration of all available data, which may include but are not limited to: community input, Superintendent reports, student achievement results and assessments of the environment of all students and staff.
[Revised March 2018]
LAKE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT R-1, LEADVILLE, COLORADO