Agenda Item
1. Board Training ~ Professional Development with Georgia School Board Association
Summary: Facilitated by: Ms. Zenda Bowie, Consultant, Georgia School Board Association
Whole Board
Governance Team
Training
Zenda Bowie
August 27, 2026
DeKalb County Schools
TRAINING NORMS
Help make today’s experience mutually beneficial!
POINT #1 POINT #2 POINT #3
Turn off/mute Be respectful No sidebar
cell phone. of other ideas conversations.
even when
different from
your own.
POINT #4 POINT #5
Participate! Enjoy your
Ask learning journey!
questions.
Give
feedback.
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Overview
School Boards are Unique!
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The Board as Fiduciary
• Involves trust
• Protect assets of the organization
• Prevent conflict of interest
• Provide transparency and accountability
Primary Duties of Fiduciaries
• Duty of Loyalty
• Duty of Care
• Duty of Obedience
STANDARDS FOR EFFECTIVE
GOVERNANCE OF GEORGIA
SCHOOL SYSTEMS
Domain 1: Governance Structure
Domain II: Strategic Planning
Domain III: Board and Community Relations
Domain IV: Policy Development
Domain V: Board Meetings
Domain VI: Personnel
Domain VII: Financial Governance
Domain VIII: Ethics This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
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Domain I - Governance
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The Dance Floor is
Not the Balcony…
~The Governance Core, Campbell & Fullan
• How does this story apply
to Governance Team work?
• What are the benefits of
spending most of your time
on the balcony?
• What are some drawbacks
to spending too much time
on the dance floor?
Roles & Responsibilities
BOARD SUPERINTENDENT
Legislative Duties: • Appointed by the Board as chief executive officer
• Adopts policies to govern the operation of the schools • Implements policy established by the board
• Determines the amount of school taxes to be levied • Secretary to the board; maintains all board meeting minutes
Executive Duties: • Liaison with the State School Superintendent
• Approves employment and assignment of personnel on • Recommends employment assignments
the recommendation of the Superintendent • Signs all employment contracts
• Acquires or disposes of real estate and other property • Responsible for money borrowed, signs notes with board chair
• Construction of facilities
• Agent of the board in procuring school equipment and
Judicial Role:
materials.
• Board serves as a tribunal.
• Enforces all local, State, & Federal rules and regulations
• Law court to resolve local matters of school law when
• Visits all schools
specifically authorized or required by Georgia Law.
• Counsels with the faculty
• Files reports with the DOE
• Other duties as required by the Board as part of the job
description contained within superintendent’s contract.
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5 BASELINE CRITERIA OF
HIGH-PERFORMING TEAMS:
• Trust each other
• Deal constructively with conflict
• Commit to doing well
• Feel personally accountable for the
team’s success
• Focus on achieving results as a team,
rather than as individuals who happen
to work together
Source: Patrick Lenicioni, 5 Traits Exhibited by High Performing Teams,
Adapted from: The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, Jossey-Bass
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DOMAIN V
BOARD MEETINGS
What procedures are
established by the Governance
Team to ensure that meetings
are in compliance with local
board policy and the Open This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Meetings Act?
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DOMAIN V: BOARD MEETINGS
Roles and Responsibilities
BOARD SUPERINTENDENT
• Conducts meetings • Assists the board in conducting
the meeting
• Approves agenda in compliance
with state laws and local board • Maintains official record of
policies all board meetings
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DOMAIN VI - PERSONNEL
Is the Dekalb County Board of
Education in compliance with
mandates for its involvement
with school district personnel?
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DOMAIN VI: PERSONNEL
Roles and Responsibilities
BOARD SUPERINTENDENT
• Evaluates the Superintendent • Recommends policies to the board for
• Prepares a professional development adoption
plan for Superintendent as needed
• Implements adopted policies
• Reviews and updates personnel
policies • Recommends personnel actions to
the board
• Practices code of ethics policy and
maintains confidentiality regarding • Provides personnel data reports
personnel matters
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DOMAIN VII
FINANCIAL GOVERNANCE
What does the governance team
know and when do you know it?
What do stakeholders know
about the budget? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
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DOMAIN VII: FINANCE
Roles and Responsibilities
BOARD SUPERINTENDENT
• Approves annual budget • Recommends annual budget to the
recommended by the Superintendent board for adoption
• Reviews and approves budget each • Presents recommendations for
month for adjustments budget adjustments at each monthly
board meeting
• Shares significant changes and
• Prepares board member in advance
direction of the district with the
for any significant budget changes
community
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DOMAIN VIII - ETHICS
• Compliance with State Board
of Education Standards,
Statewide Model Code of
Ethics., and Conflict of Interest
Guidelines paves the way
to effective, productive
teamwork.
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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
THANK YOU!
Please complete the evaluation and fill out your
credit form.
Zenda Bowie, GSBA Consultant
bowiezenda@gmail.com
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