Agenda Item
f. New BOE Member Pre-Orientation (updated 4.17.2024)
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Sr., Board Chair
DeKalb Board of Education
Retreat
April 18 & April 19th, 2024
Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center
Governance for the Future
Building Strong Foundations for
Effective School Board Governance
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New DeKalb Board of Education
Member Pre-Orientation/Onboarding
Presented by Board Chair DaCosta
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Onboarding Schedule (draft)
Starting May 2024:
• Congratulations Letter: Sent out from Board Chair and October: Conflict Management
Superintendent to new members. • Managing Conflict: Learn strategies for managing conflicts
• Solidify Dates: Schedule meetings once a month for four hours. effectively.
• Problem Solving: Practice problem-solving techniques in a board
June: Pre-Orientation context.
• Introduction: Learn about the DeKalb BOE Handbook, norms, and
understanding Board Governance policies and procedures. November: GSBA Orientation
• Welcome Video: From Chair, Superintendent, and Executive Director. • GSBA Session: Attend GSBA new board orientation to explore
• Meeting with BOE Legal: Session with HBS Legal team to discuss legal funding solutions and best practices.
aspects.
December: DCSD Onboarding
July: Meet and Greet • Onboarding Process: Includes photo, technology setup, benefits
• Luncheon: Meet and greet with BOE members and BOE staff at the overview, etc.
Board office.
• Video Presentation: Showcase experiences of current BOE members. January 2025: Swearing-In Ceremony
• Swearing-In: Official ceremony for new board members.
August: Asking the Right Questions • First Board Meeting: Attend the first board meeting as official
• Understanding Roles: Learn about day-to-day operational roles and members.
responsibilities of the Superintendent and Board members.
• Specialized Skills: Understand the specialized skills required for board Additional Notes:
duties including vision setting, policy making, budget approval, and • Parliamentary Authority: Familiarize with Roberts Rules of Order
hiring processes. 12th edition or newer revised edition.
• Preparation: Stress the importance of reading all materials provided.
September: Governance and Team Building • Effective Meetings: Encourage members to ensure meetings are
• Board Governance: Dive deeper into board governance principles. productive and efficient.
• Team Building Exercises: Engage in activities to foster teamwork
among members.
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Onboarding Schedule Chart 2024/2025 (draft)
Month Activity Description
May Congratulations Letter Sent out from Board Chair and Superintendent to new members.
Solidify Dates Schedule meetings once a month for four hours.
June Pre-Orientation Introduction to DeKalb BOE Handbook, norms, and understanding Board
Governance policies and procedures. Welcome video from Chair,
Superintendent, and Executive Director.
Meeting with BOE Legal team (HBS Legal).
July Meet and Greet Luncheon with BOE members and staff at the Board office. Video presentation
showcasing experiences of current BOE members.
August Asking the Right Questions Understand day-to-day operational roles and responsibilities of the
Superintendent and Board members. Specialized skills required for board
duties.
September Governance and Team Building Deeper dive into board governance principles. Team building exercises to
foster teamwork among members.
October Conflict Management Strategies for managing conflicts effectively. Practice problem-solving
techniques in a board context.
November GSBA Orientation Attend GSBA new board orientation to explore funding solutions and best
practices.
December DCSD Onboarding Onboarding process including photo, technology setup, benefits overview, etc.
January 2025 Swearing-In Ceremony and First Meeting Official swearing-in ceremony for new board members followed by attendance
at the first board meeting.
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DISCUSSION/NEXT STEPS
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