The Role of the Board President
Chris Thomas
ASBA General Counsel/Director of
Legal and Policy Services
What We Will Cover
1.  Selecting a Board President
2.  What Qualities Make a Good Board
President?
3.  What Board Presidents Do Under Board
Policy
4.  Board President Role in Agenda Setting
5.  Board President Role in Chairing/Managing
the Meeting
6.  Other Common Roles for Board Presidents
7.  Your Questions
Selecting a Board President
§  Statute says you must have one (15-321)
–  What about other officer positions?
§  Selected at Organizational Meeting
(Between Jan 1 and Jan 15, per 15-321)
Selecting a Board President
§  How is this done? (Policy BDA)
–  Who chairs meeting?
–  Public votes
–  What if you can’t agree?
–  Can you select a BP at another time?
–  How long is the term?
What Qualities Make a Good
Board President?
§  Leader
§  Facilitator
§  Good Communicator
§  Respected by Community/District
What Qualities Make a Good
Board President?
§  Able to Think On Your Feet
§  Good relationship with Superintendent and
Board
§  Good Spokesperson
§  It’s Not About You
What Board Presidents Do
Under Board Policy (BDB)
§  Preside over all meetings and conduct
meetings in accordance with Arizona law
and policies of the District
§  Consult with the Superintendent and, on
behalf of the Governing Board as a whole,
approve items to be placed on the agenda
for each meeting (more about this later)
What Board Presidents Do
Under Board Policy (BDB)
§  Encourage and maintain orderly and
democratic participation
§  Keep all discussions factual and on the
subject at hand
§  Allow for full and complete exploration of
each item of business
Board President Role in Agenda
Setting (BEDBA)
§  The Board President’s role is to ensure
that the Board Meeting Agenda contains
the items that the board wants to talk
about
Board President Role in Agenda
Setting (BEDBA)
§  “The Superintendent will prepare Board
meeting agendas in consultation with the
Board President.”
§  “The Superintendent, with the approval of
the Board President, on behalf of the
Governing Board as a whole, may place
items on the agenda.”
Board President Role in Agenda
Setting (BEDBA)
§  “Any Board member proposing an item for
consideration of placement on the agenda
will notify the Superintendent of the
particular item of business at least five (5)
working days before the meeting.”
Board President Role in Agenda
Setting (BEDBA)
§  Read altogether, this is what this means:
–  The Board President is not the gatekeeper
–  Neither is the Superintendent
–  It is the Board’s agenda – but it takes a team
working together, including the
Superintendent and the Board President – to
make it happen and make sure the required
business of the district gets taken care of
Board President Role in
Chairing/Managing the Meeting
§  Call the Meeting to Order
–  Pledge of Allegiance/Ceremonies/
Recognitions
–  Oversee correct use of board/superintendent
reports
§  Make sure the agenda is followed
–  Follow the open meeting law, steer board
members away from topics that stray from
stated agenda items
Board President Role in
Chairing/Managing the Meeting
§  Make sure all board policies are followed
–  Including basic – and agreed upon in advance
– parliamentary procedure
§  Regulate speakers according to board
policy
–  State clearly what the rules are before Call to
the Public
Board President Role in
Chairing/Managing the Meeting
§  Participate fully in the meeting in the way
other board members do
–  Can vote
–  Can make motions
–  Can speak
§  Should try to let others speak first
Other Common Roles for Board
Presidents
§  Serving as Spokesperson for the Board
When Asked
–  Usually do not speak for the District
Other Common Roles for Board
Presidents
§  Co-chief Diplomat for District
–  Help present district image
–  Advocate for students beyond the board table
–  Community Outreach
–  Respect Superintendent’s Role
–  Respect the “Opposition” on the Board and in
Community
Other Common Roles for Board
Presidents
§  Co-chief Board Developer
–  Help Board Engage in Strategic Approach
§  Know Mission Statement, Vision and District Goals
and Tie Back to Actions
–  Encourage/Advocate for Board Member
Training
–  Take the Lead on Board Self-Assessment
Other Common Roles for Board
Presidents
§  Signing Legal Documents per Board
Policy
–  Superintendent Contract
§  Acting for the Board at Ceremonies
Final Thoughts
§  Board President is:
–  First among equals – only has authority when
authorized by board policy or board action
–  Seen as a representative of the district – whether
or not acting as one
–  Team Builder and Facilitator
§  Board President is NOT:
–  Co-Superintendent
–  Gatekeeper
–  Super Board Member
Questions?
[email protected]
602-254-1100
800-238-4701
THANK YOU
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