Oversight VS Overstepping Lon Garrison and Timi Tullis

Oversight VS Overstepping Lon Garrison and Timi Tullis AASB Staff

Define Oversight? Overstep?

What is oversight What is overstepping What is a sign that you have overstepped the line?

Talk at Tables! At your table describe the difference between the board’s oversight role and overstepping into the management role. (1 minute) Define when oversight becomes overstepping. What let’s you know when you have crossed the line? (3 minutes) Pick a spokesperson to report out.

Oversight : The action of overseeing something. Example: “effective oversight of the financial reporting process”

Overstep: To pass beyond or exceed (a limit or standard). Example: "you must not overstep your authority" ·

Describe the board’s oversight role?

What does this look like to you? What do you think it is?

What does it look like now? Can you tell me anything more?

What does it look like now?

Let’s Look at some Key Terms Governance Management Oversight Body as a Whole Overstep

Governance : (the Board) Governance is the way rules, norms and actions are structured, sustained, regulated and held accountable A government may operate as a democracy where citizens vote on who should govern and the public good is the goal

Management: (the Superintendent) The administration of an organization Includes the activities of setting the strategy of an organization and coordinating the efforts of its employees (or of volunteers) to accomplish its objectives

Management Putting plans and procedures in place to accomplish desired outcomes and priorities Monitoring plans procedures for effectiveness in accomplishing desired results Adjusting plans and procedures as needed to accomplish results.

What is Oversight of Management? Making sure that plans are in place to get desired results Making sure results are in place Making sure plans and procedures are monitored for effectiveness and changed if necessary.

Let’s look at some scenarios. You be the judge: Oversight Or Overstep

The school board asks to review the hiring policies of the district during the teacher hiring process.

A school board member receives a phone call from a parent concerned about a substitute teacher. The parent does not want the substitute working with her son. The school board member calls the superintendent and demands that the substitute be fired immediately because of the parents' concern. Board member calls the superintendent to advocate for the hiring of a specific individual stating that they are a good person and in need of a job.

Superintendent recommends retaining a staff member. A board member requests to see the HR file as they do not feel this staff member is thought of as good in role.

One Board member wants a report on teacher retention because he heard that teachers are leaving in high numbers and wants to know why they are unhappy in the district. This board member wants a plan developed to increase retention of staff.

A parent contacts a Board member because she heard that bullying is rampant in the school and wants to know why the Board isn’t doing anything about it. The board member immediately calls the superintendent to share this information.

Several parents have asked the district that the bus stop closer to their homes for student pick up and drop off. A board member shares this concern with the superintendent who in turn works with the transportation department to figure out a better option for stops.

During difficult budget times, the administration held meetings with both the certified and non-certified staff to give them a heads up on the budget uncertainty. A board member announced they wanted to attend this meeting and speak as a board member to show support of staff.

A parent calls a Board member to complain that schools should not have been closed last Tuesday since the weather was not that bad. The board member refers the parent to the District Policy pertaining to school closure.

Parents request a meeting with two Board members and they share that they intend to sue the school system because their children were suspended for being with a group of students who were in possession of alcohol on school property while attending a school ball game. The parents claim that their children did not drink any of the alcohol, should not be punished, and that any record of the punishment be expunged. The board members agree to this meeting.

During difficult budget times, the administration held meetings with both the certified and non-certified staff to give them a heads up on the budget uncertainty. A board member announced they wanted to attend this meeting and speak as a board member to show support of staff.

The superintendent presented a budget with proposed specific positions to be cut due to a funding shortfall. A director of a department was consulted when their position was in consideration. Another administrator in the district approached a school board member to express concern over the elimination of the position. The board member then raised concerns at the school board table during deliberations. When it came to vote this specific board member was the only NAY and turned to the other administrator and said, “I did what I could do”.

The Impact of Overstepping! Undermines authority of superintendent Staff confused Creates inefficiencies among staff Undermines trust b/t board and supt. Diverts board’s attention

Does Anyone know what this is?

Oversight and Overstepping Oversight; focused on the management system Overstepping OR micro managing; focused on individual actions

Good questions to ask Am I acting within policies established by the board, specifically the 9000’s (board bylaws) for most of Alaska’s districts? Am I focused on what is good for ALL kids? Am I as an individual overstepping or is the board as a whole? Are we allowing our educational leader, our only employee, the superintendent to do the job he/she was hired to do?