WBJ Board Consulting counts the superintendent search process among its menu of professional services.  We provide support and guidance based on our in-depth knowledge and understanding of the role of superintendents and the business of public education.   Our firm will work extensively with the board and others to help identify “best match” candidates for your district.  One extensive process includes the development of a timeline, board member interviews, gathering community and employee input and providing a Superintendent Profile based on the needs of your district.

WBJ understands each district as unique and deserves a firm that seeks to identify the candidate that is the best fit for the district.   Our firm actively participates in several educational conferences, symposiums, and superintendent seminars.  This participation exposes us to current leadership training successful leaders and the skill set needed by the most accomplished district leaders.  We will both seek applicants and identify applicants who participate in the search.  We will advertise the position based on the direction provided for the board and the net they desire to cast. Our firm will complete background checks to ensure only candidates of the highest caliber are brought forward for consideration by the board.  Finally, we will outline and assist you through the hiring process as needed.  Identifying quality candidates will lead to the selection of the best superintendent your district.

WBJ Consulting is committed to the integrity of the process of selecting a superintendent.  Our Firm will identify and present candidates who have a clean, ethical, and comprehensive background and history to be named to the district’s top job.  The public scrutiny that comes along with the board’s decision requires complete confidence in our ability to thoroughly investigate and vet every candidate.  All candidates who may be publicly associated with the district will pass a full battery of security checks by our firm.

.

Newly elected or appointed board members typically start serving their positions filled with a litany of questions and an unsatisfied desire to contribute.  We are here to answer those questions and ensure a smooth start in uncharted waters. This training focus on common board procedures, board meeting structure and meeting rules.

Let’s have a discussion about why you were elected or appointed and what you’re expected to do.  The session provides the, “nuts and bolts” associated with the effective board member.  It responds to how you fit into the working parts of the organization.

In this session we will cover the inner workings of conducting a board meeting.  An In-depth review and application of Robert’s Rules of Order will dominate this session.  The accurate and effective use of Robert’s Rules provides the strength every board member needs to be a contributing member of the team.  A comprehensive overview of laws relative to public information from meetings (FOIA) will also be covered.

One of the most important responsibilities of a board is the judicial aspect of the role.  WBJ’s legal consultant and practitioners will prepare your board to deal with these events properly. We will cover the polices and laws about grievances and hearings as well as the hiring and firing of employees.  Get ready for an eye-opening experience.

In this session we will discuss how to manage the most important employee in the organization.  We will thoroughly cover the search, hiring, and contract negotiation process using a comprehensive methodology of checks and balances for one of the most crucial decision any board makes.  This session includes goal setting and the superintendent evaluation process.

Understanding student performance data is an essential part of understanding school district data in single and comprehensive units and help you understand what the reports are saying.  A longitudinal and annual review will be offered by school and district. Our data specialist will give your examples of important data that is produced by the state, as well as any data that is germane to your district and produced locally.  Suggestions and recommendations will be made that align with the board’s ability to shape the direction of the system.  An analysis of your district’s disaggregated data is also available as a part of your package at your request.

As board members we serve the public. In this session we will discuss the patterns of behaviors, concepts and understanding of our responsibilities to the public. Communication, problem solving, and even campaigning will be a focus of the discussions. We will go through scenarios to gain an understanding of what could and what should happen when dealing with the public. We will also discuss how the public can influence the direction of a district and how we as board members can make the organization and operations of the district more conceivable to our stakeholders. Public relations can make or break your district, this session will have you prepared.

One of the most interesting roles and authorities as a board member is the drafting of policies which govern your school district. WBJ will do a sample review of your district’s policies for age and will discuss any possible amendments. We will suggest a policy review calendar by which district policies can be evaluated. The anatomy of policy drafting will also be discussed. We will also detail the hierarchy of legislation from the local to the federal level. Everything that happens in a district is facilitated by policy, by the end of this session we will have you informed and prepared to legislate for the best interest of your district.

Upon being elected/appointed to the school board, the public holds you accountable for the financial security and stability of the district. In this session we will discuss the basic to mid-level finance operations of a school district. Because every district can be different in its specific revenue and expenditures, discussion will be kept to general concepts. However, we will discuss basic budget patterns and procedures to have you prepared to analyze your budget when presented. We will overview types district accounts and audits as well. It’s taxpayers dollars so let us work together to understand and manage it.