Effective and Reflective Governance Charter School Regional

Effective and Reflective Governance Charter School Regional Huddle Durham, NC July 20, 2018

Agenda Goals and Objectives Board Development Meetings and NC Open Meetings Law Working with your Board Common Pitfalls of Governing Boards Frequently Asked Questions Next Steps and Self-Assessment

Goals and Objectives Understand the development and structure of a high-functioning board and the relationship between the school director and board. Understand best practices for conducting meetings in accordance with NC open meeting laws. Identify common pitfalls of charter school governance and how to avoid them.

BOARD DEVELOPMENT

Number of Board Members Each charter school board should have between 5 and 9 members. OCS highly recommends that charter school staff members do not sit on the charter school board due to conflict of interest. Staff members can not be voting members of the board.

Nepotism and Conflict of Interest Policies 4.3. The Nonprofit board of directors shall adopt and ensure compliance with a conflict of interest and anti-nepotism policy. This policy shall include, at a minimum, the following provisions: 1. No voting member of the governing board shall be an employee of a for-profit company that provides substantial services to the charter school for a fee. 2. (a) Prior to employing any immediate family, as defined in G.S. 115C‑12.2, of any member of the board of directors or a charter school employee with supervisory authority shall be employed or engaged as an employee, independent contractor, or otherwise by the board of directors in any capacity, such proposed employment or engagement shall be: (i) disclosed to the board of directors and (ii) approved by the board of directors in a duly called open‑session meeting. (b) The burden of disclosure of such a conflict of interest shall be on the applicable board member or employee with supervisory authority. If the requirements of this subsection are complied with, the charter school may employ immediate family of any member of the board of directors or a charter school employee with supervisory authority. 3. A requirement that a person shall not be disqualified from serving as a member of a charter school's board of directors because of the existence of a conflict of interest, so long as the person's actions comply with: a. the school's conflict of interest policy established as provided in this subsection; and b. applicable law 4. No teacher or staff member that is immediate family of the chief administrator shall be hired without the board of directors evaluating their credentials, establishing a structure to prevent conflicts of interest, and notifying the Department, with evidence, that this process has occurred. 5. The requirements of Chapter 55A of the General Statutes related to conflicts of interest. *Find out more at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/charterschools/resources/

Election of Board Members and Officers Best practice recommendations: – – – – – Staggered terms 2-3 Year Terms Term Limits Nomination Process Election Process This should all be clearly outlined in the bylaws.

Board Committees Boards should develop subcommittees to dig deep into specific school issues: – – – – – Budget and Finance Committee Governance Building/Facilities Strategic Planning Academics/Instruction

MEETINGS AND NC OPEN MEETINGS LAW

What are the characteristics of a successful board meeting? Has a clearly outlined agenda Stays on schedule (starts and ends on time; allows ample time for presentations and discussion) Follows Roberts Rules of Order Detailed committee reports Robust and open discussion Students first mindset

NC Open Meetings Law (NCGS 143-318.10) All board meetings and committee meetings must be open to the public and provide appropriate notice in advance of the meeting date, time, and location: – Regular Meetings: Seven (7) Days – Special-Called Meetings: Forty-eight 48 Hours (Includes subcommittee meetings) – Emergency Meetings: Immediately after notice is given to all board members

NC Open Meetings Law (NCGS 143-318.10) All meetings must be properly noticed physically at the school and/or on the school’s website. Committee meetings are subject to Open Meetings Law. Meeting minutes should be taken and approved at every meeting. Meeting minutes should be kept in a location available to the public (website).

NC Open Meetings Law – Closed Session Closed session procedures: 1. State the purpose of going into closed session verbally and in the meeting minutes. 2. Closed session discussion must be kept confidential. 3. Maintain closed session minutes. Keep these notes separate from open meeting minutes. 4. All voting must take place in regular open session.

NC Open Meetings Law – Closed Session There are nine (9) legal reasons in NC to go into closed session (pursuant to NCGS 143-318/11): – Privileged Information – General Statute 132 (Personnel, Student, Closed Session) – – – – – – – – Discuss Award or Scholarship Consult with attorney (not about general policy) Expansion (Real estate/business negotiation) Negotiations (terms of employment contracts) Personnel matters Investigate concerns of criminal matters Form emergency plans for response to school violence Briefings from law enforcement (public safety, terrorism, etc.)

NC Open Meetings Law – Closed Session What do you do if you want to make a decision based on the closed session discussion? – Come out of closed session and vote – Make a motion that makes clear to the public what the vote is for. Voting ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on package A does not tell the public what package A is. Remember, you must come out of closed session to adjourn the meeting.

Can the board make decisions about the school through email? No Electronic “discussions” of school business involving several board members could be construed as a meeting and are in violation of the open meetings law. You can communicate via email, just communicate individually and avoid a quorum of board members. Do not “reply all” to an email from a board member that discusses school business.

Sample Meeting Agenda 1. Call to order 2. Reading of the School’s Mission and Conflict of Interest Policy 3. Approval of Minutes 4. Public Comment 5. Approval of Agenda 6. Officer Reports 7. Directors report 8. Special Committee Reports 9. New Business 10. Announcements 11. Adjournment

Parliamentary Procedure Present Motion Second Motion Debate and Discuss Vote on Motion Record Vote Results Remember – The board chair must restate the motions so all members of the board and audience can hear the motion. – All voting, according to open meeting laws, must be completed in open session. – Voting cannot take place by secret ballot.

WORKING WITH YOUR BOARD

Responsibilities of the Board Each school and governing board is required to follow and adhere to: – Public charter school law – Charter agreement – All open meeting laws Effective governance includes: – Designing strategic, fiscal, and management plans – Outlining organizational responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Board Governing boards should: Set the mission and vision of school Analyze and evaluate school budget Analyze and evaluate academic progress Analyze and evaluate all reports Give clear direction and support to the school director – Request amendments to the charter – Speak as one voice after decision is made – – – – –

Responsibilities of the Board Governing boards should not: – Micro-manage school directors – Assume responsibility for day-to-day operations School directors should be prepared to update board members on all matters of the school. – Bring other staff (deans, operations/finance directors, etc.) to present and allow the board to ask questions.

Roles and Responsibilities of Board vs. Administration Board Responsibilities Administration Responsibilities Responsibility is to make sure the school performs through clear evaluative measures. Leads and develops plans and procedures that drive the school’s performance The board asks “How well should the school perform at .?” The administration asks “How will I .?” The board asks “What is our goal for The administration asks “How will I the year?” achieve the board’s goal?”

Roles and Responsibilities of Board vs. Administration The Board The Administration Ends (Results) Why? What? How Much? Means (Strategies) How? When? Where? Who? Mission Vision Goals Policies Objectives Strategies Action Plans Procedures Monitor Vote Implement Recommend Retrieved from Cornell-Feist, Marci. Charter Schools Trustees Guide.

Roles and Responsibilities of Board vs. Administration Area of Oversight Time, Attention, and Responsibility Governance Mission Strategy Viability Leadership Partnership Authorizations Finance policies Enrollment Employment Terms Operational Staffing Program Systems Board Decisions Admin Advice Board and Administrator Share Decisions Board Advice Administrator Decisions

Budget and Board Oversight Charter school finances are the number one reason for charter school closure nationally. The finance committee should review the budget and finance projections monthly and share this information with the board. The board should have governance policies regarding finances and spending limits.

Budget and Board Oversight The entire board should always know the financial health of the school including: – – – – The number of students currently attending The number of student attrition each month The current financial budget surplus or deficit The cost of major projects of the school

COMMON PITFALLS OF GOVERNING BOARDS

Common Pitfalls of Charter School Governing Boards Individual board members acting as if they have authority to make decisions (including the Board President/Chair). Conducting illegal meetings by not properly posting a meeting, taking action in a workshop or executive session, or discussing inappropriate topics in closed (executive) session. Approving a budget that is not based on realistic projections. Meeting too often and for too long.

Common Pitfalls of Charter School Governing Boards (cont.) Failing to keep corporate records, such as the charter application, contract, bylaws, articles of incorporation, meeting minutes, etc., in a safe location where people can use them. – This includes student academic achievement records. Micro-managing or failing to focus on what matters most.

Common Pitfalls of Charter School Governing Boards (cont.) Agreeing to capital financing terms that overextend the charter school’s budget (this is usually done by projecting student enrollment too high). Neglecting the board’s responsibility to create and to govern through board policies. Failing to communicate with relevant constituencies (e.g. parents, authorizer).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the North Carolina policy concerning meetings of public bodies? The North Carolina General Assembly has declared it to be public policy that all hearings, deliberations, and actions of public bodies be conducted publicly. NCGS 143-318.9

What are public bodies? A public body includes government authorities, boards, commissions, committees, councils, or other bodies. This includes, cities, school administrative units, NC public universities. These groups are public bodies if their members are elected, appointed, and they are a decision making or advisory board. NCGS 143-318.10

What kind of public notice is required for public meetings? Meeting Type Regular Meeting Special-Called Meeting Emergency Meeting Notice Seven (7) days Forty-eight (48) hours After all board members are notified* *You may consider only the business connected with the emergency circumstance.

Is it required to set up a schedule of regular meetings? No, however, if you have a schedule of regular meetings, it is required that you keep a record of the schedule on file. Best practice is to have a schedule and post that schedule on your website.

Does the public have the right to speak at your meeting? Open meeting law does not give members of the public the automatic right to speak at your meeting; however, Best practice is to allow time for public comments at the beginning of the meeting and limit the time each person can speak to three minutes. – Outline the process for scheduling and giving public comment in the bylaws.

Can you have a meeting by conference call or other electronic means? Yes, but you must provide a location and means for the public to listen to the meeting. The meeting notice should indicate where the public may listen.

Can the board make decisions about the school through email? No. Electronic “discussions” of school business involving several board members could be construed as a meeting and are in violation of the open meetings law. You can communicate via email, just communicate individually and avoid a quorum of board members. Do not “reply all” to an email from a board member that discusses school business.

Can you vote by secret ballot? No.

Do you have to take minutes of meetings? Yes, every public body is required to keep accurate minutes of all official meetings. Closed session minutes should be kept separate from regular meeting minutes and they should provide a general account so that a person not in attendance would have a reasonable understanding of what happened.

QUESTIONS?

Next Steps and Self-Assessment As board members, do you: – Have a clear distinction between the board’s responsibilities and the school director’s responsibilities? – Clearly understand how to conduct transparent, effective, and lawful meetings? – Have best practices clearly outlined in your bylaws? – Have sufficient expertise to build subcommittees and dig into complex issues? – Have mutual trust in the decision-making responsibilities of the administration? As a school director, do you: – Have a clear distinction between your responsibilities and the board’s responsibilities? – Understand your responsibilities for informing and updating the board? – Have a clear understanding of how you are evaluated by the board? – Have clear and open lines of communication with the board? – Have mutual trust in the decision-making responsibilities of the board?