Governance 101Governance 101

Roles and Responsibilities of Roles and Responsibilities of Board of TrusteesBoard of Trustees

Who?Who?

The Board of Trustees is the organized The Board of Trustees is the organized group of volunteers who, collectively, group of volunteers who, collectively, are legally and morally accountable are legally and morally accountable for the viability of the organizationfor the viability of the organization

The Board only has authority when it The Board only has authority when it votes as groupvotes as group

Unless so designated, no single Unless so designated, no single member has authority for the board as member has authority for the board as a whole. a whole.

GovernanceGovernance

This encompasses legal This encompasses legal responsibilities, general oversight, responsibilities, general oversight, planning and policy making, and planning and policy making, and meeting fiduciary requirementsmeeting fiduciary requirements

The Bylaws delineate the board’s The Bylaws delineate the board’s duties and powersduties and powers

Duty of CareDuty of Care

A Board memberA Board member- has the legal responsibility to put the - has the legal responsibility to put the

welfare of the organization ahead of welfare of the organization ahead of his/her ownhis/her own

-has a fiduciary duty to act in the best -has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the schoolinterests of the school

- attends Board meetings and actively - attends Board meetings and actively participatesparticipates

Duty of Loyalty Duty of Loyalty

A Board Member mustA Board Member must

-not knowingly do anything that would -not knowingly do anything that would harm the schoolharm the school

-not vote on any matter on which s/he -not vote on any matter on which s/he has a personal interesthas a personal interest

Duties of the Board of Duties of the Board of TrusteesTrustees

To govern and to be directly accountable to To govern and to be directly accountable to the statethe state

To hire and evaluate school leadersTo hire and evaluate school leaders To ensure compliance with all state and To ensure compliance with all state and

federal lawsfederal laws To develop strategic and accountability To develop strategic and accountability

plansplans To oversee finances and to fulfill its To oversee finances and to fulfill its

fiduciary responsibilitiesfiduciary responsibilities To ensure charter renewalTo ensure charter renewal

Expectations of a TrusteeExpectations of a Trustee

GovernorGovernorFulfilling governance functionsFulfilling governance functions AmbassadorAmbassadorReaching out to the communityReaching out to the community SponsorSponsorDonating time and resourcesDonating time and resources ConsultantConsultantUtilizing skills and expertise on behalf of the Utilizing skills and expertise on behalf of the

organizationorganization

Open Meeting LawOpen Meeting Law

Board of Trustees is required to Board of Trustees is required to adhere to Open Meeting Law adhere to Open Meeting Law (G.L.c.30A,S11A(G.L.c.30A,S11A1/21/2))

- post meeting time and date- post meeting time and date- Hold open, public discussionsHold open, public discussions

- Keep accurate records- Keep accurate records

(OML….subsequent training session)(OML….subsequent training session)

ResourcesResources

www.doe.mass.edu/charter/governance/adminguiwww.doe.mass.edu/charter/governance/adminguide.docde.doc

www.doe.mass.edu/charter/laws.htmlwww.doe.mass.edu/charter/laws.html www.uscharterschools.org/gb/governance/contentwww.uscharterschools.org/gb/governance/content

s.htms.htm Creating an Effective Charter School Governing Creating an Effective Charter School Governing

Board GuidebookBoard Guidebook www.boardcafe.orgwww.boardcafe.org The Board CaféThe Board Café www.Boardsource.orgwww.Boardsource.org Building EffectiveBuilding Effective Non-Profit Non-Profit

BoardsBoards

Massachusetts Charter Schools Trustees Guide Massachusetts Charter Schools Trustees Guide Feist, Marci Cornell. 1999. The Massachusetts Charter Feist, Marci Cornell. 1999. The Massachusetts Charter Schools Trustees Guide. Boston: Pioneer Institute for Public Schools Trustees Guide. Boston: Pioneer Institute for Public Policy ResearchPolicy Research