Session objectives - Ohio School Boards

4/5/13

1

© Property of the Ohio School Boards

Association

OSBA leads the way to educational excellence by serving Ohio’s public school board members and the diverse districts they represent through superior service and creative solutions.

A new perspective on micromanagement

OSBA Board Leadership Institute April 2013

Kenna S. Haycox, policy consultant, OSBA Kathy LaSota, director, school board services, OSBA


Association

Session objectives •  Introduction to the task and the people

•  The challenge: defining micromanagement

•  Linking governance and administration through policy

•  Warning signs and red flags


Association

WHAT IS MICROMANAGEMENT

4/5/13

2


Association


Association

Your take on micromanagement?

To control with excessive

attention to minor details

To direct or control in a

detailed, often meddlesome

manner.

A style of management that is characterized by an excessive need for control and extreme

attention to even apparently trivial

details.”


Association

4/5/13

3


Association

WHAT IS BOARD POLICY


Association

What is board policy? •  Board policies are:

•  The ideas that guide the direction of the district •  The tools that bring about prudent change in

the district. •  Communicated to the school community to

outline the parameters within which the district operates

•  Created to provide leeway for administrative judgment and daily implementation


Association

Policy development process 1.  Identification of need 2.  Analysis of policy strategies 3.  Selection of policy strategy 4.  Policy drafting 5.  Policy adoption 6.  Policy implementation 7.  Review and evaluation 8.  Policy revision or removal

4/5/13

4


Association

The difference between board policy and

administrative guidelines Policy Guidelines/Regulations

“The who, what and why” •  Sets goals •  Resolves issues •  Defines and aligns administrative

responsibilities •  Establishes oversight and

evaluation procedures

“The how” •  Supports and implements board

policy •  Provides direction for

administrative decisions and district procedures

•  Generally designed by administrators


Association

The board’s role in policy development

•  The board’s role is to: •  Provide direction for where the district is and

where the district hopes to be in the future •  Build a consensus for the district’s educational

mission and philosophy •  Protect the district from litigation •  Involve appropriate stakeholders in the process •  Allow district administrators and staff to implement

policies through district level plans and procedures


Association

Superintendent’s role in policy development

•  The superintendent’s role is: •  Keep the board informed of needed policy

updates •  Communicate policies to appropriate

stakeholders •  Ensure district level policies and

procedures are in line with overall board policies

4/5/13

5


Association

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER


Association

Policy-related micromanagement

•  Individual board member “on a mission” •  Lack of confidence in district

administration •  Desire to be involved in determining

what daily procedures should be •  “Knee-jerk” reaction


Association

Linking governance to management through policy

•  Effective policies: •  Set general guidelines •  Set general “big picture” procedures and

expectations •  Involve stakeholder input •  Are not overly restrictive •  Allow administration to know what their

procedures should be in line with, but give flexibility for daily implementation

4/5/13

6


Association

You might be micromanaging if…

•  Your policies: •  Contain excessive, detailed procedures •  Do not have stakeholder input •  Are adopted based on one situation rather

than long-term direction and mission •  Tie the hands of employees •  Reflect the objectives of one or two board

members vs. the board as a whole


Association

Staff Is this a duplicate/review of a task staff already does, has done? A rubber stamp of a staff recommendation?

Past Is this a review of something that already happened? (staff reports, committee reports, financial reports, etc.

Values Does the item pertain to the organization’s core values? Of how decisions are made, how actions are determined to be right or wrong, how the board ensure the organization is walking its talk?

Vision and Mission

Is this a discussion of the effect the organization has in the community? The impact the organization will create for individuals and for the community? About how you will make more of a difference in people’s lives?


Association

The power of team…

4/5/13

7


Association

Contact information Kenna S. Haycox Policy consultant, OSBA [email protected] Kathy LaSota Director, school board services, OSBA [email protected]


Association

Ohio School Boards Association @OHschoolboards

Visit our website at: www.ohioschoolboards.org

Thank you!

Documents

Session objectives - Ohio School Boards