Roles and Responsibilities of Indian School Board Members
Education
In January 2002, President Bush signed into law the
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which mandates
40 hours of training for Indian school board members.
This comprehensive, two-day class explains the
requirements of NCLB and your responsibilities as a
school board member.
As a board member, not only are you key to providing
quality education to your community’s children, but
the decisions you and your fellow board members make will
affect future generations. This class was specifically designed
to give you, as an individual board member, and
your board, as a team, the tools to succeed. You’ll
learn new methods for solving problems, resolving
conflicts, communicating and developing your
individual leadership style. Student rights, liability
of school board members and compensation issues
will also be explored.
Improve the quality of your school board and enhance the
quality of education for children in your community — register
now!
Instructor: Nat Hall*
*Instructor subject to change.
Topics that will be covered include:
Group Dynamics
- Task functions
- Group relations functions
- Initiating participation
- Dealing with overpowering members
- Group cohesiveness
Planning Modes
- Power in planning
- Directional planning
- Strategic planning
- Contingency planning
- Planning with or without goals
Ethical Issues
- Responsibility to the community
- Disclosing personal interest
- Employment within the organization
- Conflict of interest
- Nepotism
Board Responsibilities and Functions
- Defining goals and objectives
- Obtaining community input
- Developing and implementing policies
- Evaluating program performance
- Developing standards for the executive director
- Student retention
Schools and the Law
- Legal structure of education
- Federal responsibility to Indian education
- Education as a state function
- Rights and duties of local school boards
- Education and the court system
- Unions in tribal schools:
- Bahweting Public School Academy v. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
- Impact on Indian Country schools
- Proven teaching methods
- Closing the achievement gap
- Community and parent involvement
- Reauthorization and the 110th Congress
| Board Member Liability
- Standard rules of liability
- Liability suits (tort actions)
- Compensation of directors
- Use of the organization’s funds
Liability Coverage Under the Federal Tort Claims Act
- Self-Determination Amendments — P.L. 100-472
- Determining who is covered
- Suits by non-Indians
- Tail liability coverage
- Staying within the scope of work
Financial Responsibility
- Understanding, reviewing and maintaining financial reports
- Selecting an audit firm
- Dealing with adverse audit findings
- Handling disallowed costs
Authority Over Management
- Hiring the superintendent
- Delegating authority
- Employment contracts
- Grievance and appeals procedures
Authority to Contract
- Provisions under P.L. 93-638 and P.L. 100-472
- Provisions under P.L. 100-297
- Tribal resolutions
Parents and School Policies
- Parental rights and responsibilities in education
- Performance testing (predicted and actual)
- Discipline policies
- Suspension, expulsion and placement of students
- Access, review and maintenance of student records
- Student rights
Topics subject to change.
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