(Janet Steffenhagen posted a piece on this article back on November 23rd - A call for a public vote on board chair )


Trustees should get rid of secret ballot

School Watch by Katherine Wagner
The Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Times, November 21, 2008

I have a municipal election hangover. It is mentally exhausting work sorting through 41 candidates for council and school board.

Despite reading stacks of print and online election materials, absorbing media coverage, talking to community members and listening to candidates, I was still fretting over my choices as I sat down with my ballot last Saturday.

Judging from the amount of time my fellow voters spent behind the folded cardboard screens, I was not the only one struggling with indecision.

The election is over and, for better or worse, we have chosen our next crop of local politicians. Voting duty done (phew!), there is a temptation to relax and dial our attention level back to neutral. It is a mistake voters make again and again.

The Board of Education will grapple with several challenges during its first year. These challenges are best met with stakeholder help: declining student enrollment, stagnant graduation rates, funding shortfalls, an upcoming provincial election, a mandate to provide more early-childhood and adult learning opportunities...the list is long and daunting.

During the election campaign, one issue was identified by 11 of 19 trustee candidates as a personal top priority.

It is perhaps both the most straightforward and the most complicated challenge the new board of trustees must grapple with.

It is a challenge that can be solved with minimal cost, if maximum effort and goodwill is applied.

The issue 11 candidates committed to solving if elected? To improve parent participation and relations with partner groups.

Among the successful candidates, Susan Carr gave priority to "board and partner group relations" second only to student achievement. Ken Clarkson's outlined the development of inclusive decision-making processes as his second priority after "regaining local control over the public education system." Mike Huber placed "improved communication" in the number one spot and also stated, "...the Board of Trustees' first priority should be to encourage greater parent and community involvement." Dave Rempel's third priority just behind student success and safety is, "...to expand parent input and involvement in schools..."

Stepan Vdovine's number one priority, "...establishing strong relationships with all partner groups," followed by, "...an open and collaborative governance approach."

A sixth trustee-elect, Eleanor Palis, focused her top priority on an important precursor to improved stakeholder relations -- building trust relationships between school board members.

The new board of trustees will be sworn in on Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. With barely a pause for breath, they will immediately be expected to take part in a secret ballot nomination, followed by a secret ballot election for board chair and vice chair.

Who they choose and how that decision is arrived at will set the tone for relations between trustees and stakeholder groups.

The jockeying and politicking start very soon after the final vote is tallied on election day. It is a dangerous beginning as backroom deals can sour relationships at the board table. A misstep at this point could result in a fog of distrust descending over trustees.

The chair sets the tone and provides the public interface on board decisions and at many public functions. The skill he or she brings to the position is critical to establishing and maintaining positive relationships between trustees, with employees, stakeholder groups and the community.

True leaders set aside personal ambition and encourage an inclusive discussion among all seven elected trustees. They extend this approach to the broader community. Effective leaders are adept at opening doors, building bridges and empowering others.

Trustees might consider reforming the chair/vice chair election process.

An open and transparent process would help build a foundation of public trust. To start, do away with secret ballots and put in place term limits for board chair, as they have done in Vancouver and Surrey. On Dec. 8, trustees can vary the existing antiquated process by suspending the existing bylaw with a two-thirds majority vote. The bylaw can be amended at a later date.

A provincial trustee conference is taking place Dec. 4 to 6.

Traditionally, the entire board of education, including staff, attends the meeting. It is an opportunity to learn about their role and get to know each other.

Mary Delagardelle, Iowa Association of School Boards, is a featured speaker. She will share the findings of ground-breaking Lighthouse studies examining the practices of effective school boards and trustees.

Researchers found that school trustees, "in higher-achieving districts had more confidence in students' potential and in the district staff's capacity to make academic gains".

Researchers also identified "seven conditions for productive change".

These include a strong community connection, distributed leadership and peaceable relationships. Trustees involved in the original study repeatedly said, "We disagreed without making it personal."

It is salient advice for Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows trustees and stakeholders. It is a new beginning and the first few weeks will set the tone for the term. With support from the community and stakeholders this time can be productively used to mend existing rifts and divides.

Otherwise, it is going to be a long three years.

educationwatch@gmail.com