ISBA Board Resources

Tools

Roles and Responsibilities

Building a foundation of effective school board governance by Steve Horton, Winter 2025
Are we reflecting light? by Steve Horton, Summer 2023
Laws board members should know by Lisa Tanselle, Winter 2023
Policy development is an important school board function by Julie Slavens, Winter 2023
Focusing on strategic goals by Steve Horton, February 2022
Picking a lane by Dr. Michael Adamson, Spring 2021
Understanding the school board's role in personnel matters by Lisa Tanselle, January 2021
Starting with a strategy by Dr. Robert Stwalley, Winter 2021
Board members and policy development by Julie Slavens, Winter 2021

Boardsmanship

The Power of Accountability: Leading with Vision, Values, and Vulnerability by Steve Horton, June 2025
How board members can avoid common pitfalls by Steve Horton, Winter 2023
Onboarding new members by Steve Horton, Winter 2022
Hitting your stride by Dr. Michael Adamson, Summer 2021
Rules of the road by Dr. Robert Stwalley, Spring 2021
Dealing with difficult decisions by Dr. Michael Adamson, November 2019
Alignment & balance by Dr. Michael Adamson, August 2019
Professional development: Necessary or not? by Dr. Michael Adamson, June 2019
When things go south by Dr. Michael Adamson, May 2019
Finding balance as part of a team by Dr. Michael Adamson, March 2018

Boards and Superintendents

The New Superintendent Evaluation Toolkit by Steve Horton, September 2024
School boards and the superintendent search by Steve Horton, Spring 2023
Five approaches to support an effective superintendent evaluation by Steve Horton, May 2023
Elevating and enhancing superintendent evaluation by Steve Horton, May 2022

Leadership

The case for trust in school board leadership by Steve Horton, May 2024
Great leaders surround themselves with great people by Steve Horton, June 2023
Leading is a matter of trust by Tom Simpson, Fall 2022
Building a puzzle by Steve Horton, September 2022
Starting with purpose by Dr. Michael Adamson, Winter 2021
Planning for the future is essential by Dr. Michael Adamson, Fall 2019
On a clear day by Kim Woodward, Fall 2019
A season of leadership: Staying strong by Dr. Michael Adamson, Summer 2019
Developing deep roots by Dr. Michael Adamson, Spring 2019
Rooted in school board leadership by Kim Woodward, Spring 2019
Patience: A leadership virtue by Dr. Michael Adamson, March 2019
Learning leadership by Kim Woodward, Winter 2019

Meetings

Five rules for a great board meeting by Steve Horton, Spring 2024
The power of school board protocol by Steve Horton, March 2022
Are you mired in minutiae? by Dr. Michael Adamson
Advice for board retreats by Dr. Michael Adamson
Meeting time: Too long or too short? by Dr. Michael Adamson
Why meeting preparation is crucial by Dr. Michael Adamson
Reasons for utilizing working sessions by Dr. Michael Adamson
Are your executive sessions lawful? by Dr. Michael Adamson
Meeting speed vs. meeting efficiency by Dr. Michael Adamson
Agenda packets: The best tool in board decision-making by Dr. Michael Adamson

Ethics

The value of board service by Dr. Michael Adamson
Board members and ethics by Dr. Michael Adamson
Abstaining from voting by Dr. Michael Adamson

Student Achievement and Learning

Bad board behavior = Poor student performance by Ivan Lorentzen & William McCaw
All districts should become learning districts by Ivan Lorentzen & William McCaw
Science of achievement: Board standards impact student success by Ivan Lorentzen & William McCaw
Research shows that school boards do impact student achievement by Ivan Lorentzen & William McCaw