10 RULES FOR BUILDING AND MAINTAINING GOOD RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE TEAM OF 10 EDUCATION WITH A SMILE Robert A. Frick, Ed.D. October 18, 2012

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 1 Superintendents must never forget for whom they work. It is the Board, and the Board alone. Paraphrasing Bill Cosby: “They brought you into this world, and they can take you out!”

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 1 Don’t micromanage. That’s not your job. If you are going to do the Superintendent’s job, you don’t need the Superintendent.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 2 That which interests a Board member should fascinate a Superintendent. Remember who it is that you need to please.

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 2 Remember that you are ONE part of a Board of NINE. That Board has both authority and power. As an individual, you have power. As an individual, you have no authority.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 3 The Superintendent needs to update the Board weekly about the happenings in the District. Board members hate surprises! To prevent possible violation of the Sunshine Law, this needs to be one-way communication. Never put any information into the update that could be embarrassing to the District if it were to become public.

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 3 The information that you receive weekly from the Superintendent is provided to keep you informed. It is privileged information. It is your responsibility to treat it in a confidential manner.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 4 You are responsible to orient new Board members to their job. A Superintendent ignores a new or an experienced Board member at the Superintendent’s own peril.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 4 (CONT.) Orientation should be provided by the following: Superintendent Assistant Superintendent Business ManagerHR Director Special Education DirectorSolicitor Executive Directors of IU and CTCTechnology Director Board President ß

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 4 Orientation is provided to enable you to be an effective member. You are not expected to know everything right away. Your responsibility is to attend, to ask, to listen, and to learn.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 5 Encourage Board members—new and experienced—to attend the programs offered by PSBA. Attend with them. Your attendance will help you gauge reactions to the topics discussed and will show the Board that you are interested in what they are learning.

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 5 To be an effective Board member, you need to continue to grow and to learn. Participation in training offered through the IU, PSBA, NSBA, etc., will help you in that process. Choose to participate in events within the IU where you will meet members from other districts.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER SIX Plan and hold an annual Board retreat in the spring of each year. Use the retreat to formulate the Board’s goals for the upcoming year. The main benefit of the retreat is the personal interaction that occurs among the Team of 10.

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 6 Support and attend the annual Board retreat. It will likely require that you donate a Saturday to the cause. It can cost nothing but your time, but the benefits for the District and for you can be huge.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 7 When a Board member requests information on a specific topic, provide the information to all 9 members. This helps prevent the Board from forming cliques and factions. It also says to the Board that no one is getting privileged information.

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 7 It is the Board’s responsibility to discipline and control its own members. Frequently, some Boards will expect the Superintendent to control a maverick member. This is not the function of a Superintendent.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 8 Encourage the Board to operate on a standing committee basis. Avoid the Board-as-a-whole format. The standing committee format enables each Board member to develop expertise in a specific area and saves time compared to the entire Board wrangling over small issues.

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 8 Support the standing committee format rather than Board-as-a-whole format. Each Board member can become somewhat of an expert in a specific area. It will save you time if you trust your fellow Board members.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 9 Make it a regular part of every Board meeting to recognize students and staff. Board members have to make many unpopular decisions. This gives them an opportunity to remember why they are serving in this capacity.

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 9 Attempt, as a Board, to become as transparent as possible. Once a year invite local legislators to attend workshop sessions for a two-way sharing of views. Try to get members of the public to attend public meetings. When the public is present, they will hear discussion and will better understand why certain decisions are being made.

SUPERINTENDENT’S RULE NUMBER 10 You need to be evaluated by the Board semi-annually. An open and honest discussion with the Board can decide on the criteria used for the evaluation. You have a right to know the criteria being used before the evaluation period begins. Spend less time worrying about what the Board is going to pay you and more time worrying about being productive. If the Board isn’t treating you fairly, find a Board that will.

BOARD MEMBER’S RULE NUMBER 10 Treat your Superintendent fairly. Don’t compare the Superintendent’s salary to what you are making or have made or wish you were making. The Superintendent is your hands and feet, intending to carry out your directives. The Superintendent is on your side. If you don’t believe that, find a new Superintendent.

QUESTIONS? EDUCATION WITH A SMILE Robert A. Frick, Ed.D