Needed: Better Local Governance Orientation

We do our fair share of orientation sessions for new trustees in independent and international schools, but one missing component has always bothered me. Our rather generic orientation to governance, steeped in compendia of good practice, orients new governors to the general work of governing, but it does not inculcate an appreciation for the uniqueness of their own schools. Every school has (or should have) a unique mission that sets it apart in its market; many translate the mission into an animating idea that imbues K-12 education with a purpose beyond merely getting students into university. Explicating this purpose, as well as the myriad other local aspects of governance, can only be done by people at the school.This is why we usually allocate responsibility for new trustee orientation to a board committee, but it is also why external facilitation by a consultant is necessary but not sufficient to imbue how governing works at your school. A recent opinion piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education by David W. Miles, Chair of the Board at the Association of Governing Boards (AGB), details what new governors need to know:

• A data-driven analysis of the contributions of [independent] education to society and to individuals, as well as where it falls short.
• An overview of the [independent]-education system in the United States and globally, including the types of institutions and how they address student needs.
• A better understanding of the ethical questions that can arise on the board and how to resolve them.
• An unvarnished look at the business model of [independent] education, including both key revenue sources and expenses, and how [one's] own institution fits in.
• Greater detail on the history, current state, and future vision of my institution.Information on where to find additional resources to further my understanding; e.g., NAIS, ECIS, AGB, and more.

One could do much worse as an outline for a local orientation session as another school year enters the home stretch and thoughts turn to on-boarding new governors for next year.