Our Mission: Inform and influence Georgia leaders through research and non-partisan advocacy to impact education policies and practices for the improvement of student achievement.

What Was This?

The Commission for School Board Excellence Task Force was formed in June 2008.  The Georgia Partnership joined representatives from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and AdvancedEd to bring a diverse group of business leaders, educators and school board experts together to recommend ways to strengthen school boards across the state.

The Commission's work eventually resulted in the 2010 passage of Senate Bill 84 which standardized school board ethics policies and training, clarified the roles of superintendents and school board members, and created minimum qualifications for school board candidates.  It also gave the state the ability to replace school board members who fail to serve the interests of their students.

Governor Sonny Perdue, an ardent backer of the Bill, later signed it into law.

 

 

School Board Excellence

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce was one member of the Task Force team.  Visit their web site for details on the Commission's work.

April 22:  House votes for school board ethics measure

Background

Governor Perdue commenting on the renewed accreditation for the Clayton County School System, pledges his continuing support for SB 84.

Georgia Trend Magazine's June 2009 edition looks at the issue in their "Holding School Boards Accountable" article.

Business to Business Magazine's March/April 2009 edition contained an article authored by Commission co-chairs, John Rice, Gary Price and Phil Jacobs urging support for SB 84.

Commission Recommendations:

  • Accountability  -  Allow boards to self-govern, but if this is unsuccessful - board members fail to perform, meet standards or comply with a code of ethics - allow the State Board of Education to intervene.  The State Board of Education becomes the temporary governance body of last resort.
  • Ethics  -  Create a code of ethics and conflict-of-interest policies for all school boards.  Require candidates to agree to a code of ethics and conflict-of-interest policies in order to qualify for election.
  • Roles and responsibilities  -  Clarify the law relating to board and superintendent roles and responsibilities.
  • Candidacy and elections  -  Require minimum qualifications for candidates.  Call for non-partisan, staggered elections for 4-year terms.  Require board size limited to 5-7 members.
  • Training and proficiency  -  Require capacity-building education and training for board members.  Create periodic assessments of board members' ability to serve.

The Commission recommended the following key areas that would not require state legislation:

  • Decisions made by school boards and superintendents should focus on student success.
  • School boards should have a strategic plan.
  • School systems and boards should plan succession for superintendents and board members.
  • School boards shoud have a policy for public comment and input at public board meetings.
  • Superintendents and board members should create a system for handling citizen requests/problems - and responses should be communicated to all board members.
  • Entire board training and board-superintendent training should be required.
  • The business community and others should engage to recruit candidates for boards.

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