Directors

April 2015

Greetings from your Pacific Region Team! Frank C. Pugh [email protected]

Your directors hope you found the NSBA Delegate Assembly and Annual Convention informative and enjoyable. We congratulate the Nashville hosts and NSBA staff for a job well done. The directors also want to thank Anne Byrne for her leadership as NSBA President and congratulate John Tuttle as the new NSBA President. We would like to thank Karen Echeverria, Executive Director, Idaho for her service as the Chair, Organization of State Association Executive Directors.

Anne Ritter [email protected]

JoDee Sundberg [email protected]

Ex Officio

Lillian Tafoya [email protected]

Tom Gentzel Executive Director [email protected]

Each of us are on various committees, so if you have a topic or issue that should be directed to a particular committee, please let us know. Perhaps, there are issues in your states such as legislation, litigation, or trends that we should be made aware of as well. The region directors would also like to extend an invitation for us to visit your states and provide information about NSBA activities or services. There also may be other ways in which we can represent your interests, if so, we welcome your suggestions. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and hope to see you in Chicago. Best regards, Frank, Anne, JoDee and Lillian These are our current NSBA Board committee assignments: Frank C. Pugh, California: National Certification, Audit, Agenda for Action. Anne Ritter, Idaho: Executive Committee, Finance, Evaluation, Policies and Resolutions, Shannon Award.

John D. Tuttle President [email protected]

Miranda Beard President-elect [email protected]

Kevin E. Ciak Secretary-Treasurer [email protected]

Anne M. Byrne Immediate Past President [email protected]

National School Boards Association April 2015

JoDee Sundberg, Utah: Agenda for Action, Board Policy Review, National Certification, Shannon Award, NSBAC Board of Directors. Lillian Tafoya, California, Chair, National Hispanic Council of School Board Members: Policies and Resolutions, Shannon Award. State Association Directors and Presidents are actively encouraged to share Board highlights with your leadership teams.

BOARD HIGHLIGHTS The National School Boards Association (NSBA) Board Highlights that follow profile two Board of Directors’ meetings. The first meeting was led by Anne M. BYRNE in her last meeting as President. The second meeting was led by incoming President John D. TUTTLE. Highlights are intended as a summary recap only; Board minutes will be distributed at a later date under separate cover. The meetings were held during the 2015 NSBA Annual Conference at the Omni Nashville Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee. PRE-CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING For the March 19, 2015, National School Boards Association (NSBA) Board of Directors’ meeting at the Omni Nashville Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee, discussion highlights follow: President Butch SPYRIDON from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation welcomed the National School Boards Association to Nashville. Executive Director Tom GENTZEL welcomed and introduced Executive Assistant Leila VOSSOUGHI to the 2014-15 Board of Directors (hereafter, the Board). VOSSOUGHI expressed her enthusiasm about joining NSBA and the Office of the Executive Director, and comes to NSBA after past successful administrative roles at Conference of State Bank Supervisors and LaSalle Hotel Properties. GENTZEL announced that NSBA’s current reimbursement policy around funding Board members’ attendance at regional meetings will remain unchanged through June 30, 2015. Policy D-5, “Expenses of NSBA Directors at NSBA Meetings and Conferences,” was returned to the Board Policy Review Committee for further study and recommendation. Secretary-Treasurer Miranda BEARD shared the Secretary-Treasurer’s report. NSBA is expected to end the year with a $750K operational surplus, which equates to a $1M cash balance at June 30, 2015. BEARD said that the Defined Benefit Pension plan “put great stress on our budget,” noting that the sale of the headquarters building in April is positive, as it allows NSBA to “infuse $10.6 million into the Plan National School Boards Association Board Highlights April 20, 2015 - Page 2 of 6

through our Glide Path.” Citing a 93 percent renewal rate among districts participating in National Connection, BEARD talked about the need to accelerate growth, with Deputy Executive Director Marie BILIK noting a clear and concerted focus on continuing to enhance program offerings. Annual Conference paid attendance was reported at 4,837, slightly below projection (5,200), with the revenue shortfall offset by reductions in expenses. Executive Director GENTZEL noted that National Connection and Annual Conference are about 60 percent of NSBA’s overall budget. As invited guests at the Board meeting - pending approval at the Friday, March 20 Delegate Assembly President Anne BYRNE welcomed and recognized incoming Board members: Frank S. HENDERSON, Western Region Director (attending guest); Jake R. OLIVEIRA, Northeast Region Director (attending guest); Lydia TEDONE, Northeast Region Director (attending guest); John HEIM, Executive Director, Kansas Association of School Boards and Chair, Organization of State Association Executive Directors; and Justino D. PETRARCA, Chair, Council of School Attorneys. President BYRNE thanked Board members whose terms expired in 2015 for their accomplishments and service – Immediate Past President David A. PICKLER, Western Region Director Judy LAIR, and Northeast Region Director S. Scott MUELLER shared personal statements. Also thanked for their contributions were outgoing ex officio Non-Voting Directors Karen ECHEVERRIA, Executive Director, Idaho School Boards Association and Chair, Organization of State Association Executive Directors and Gregory J. GUERCIO, Chair, Council of School Attorneys. As part of their Future Ready Update, Executive Director GENTZEL and Associate Executive Director Heather DEAN described this as a pivot year in which NSBA is “turning a corner,” with a very promising long-term future. GENTZEL spoke of the association’s “sweet spot” as serving as the Washington office of NSBA’s state association members. To fuel growth and add a new leg to the association’s financial stool, GENTZEL and Alexandre BOUCHÉ, Senior Director, Business Development, are meeting with state association executive directors to identify new ways to partner. DEAN spoke of the signed resolution for the sale of the headquarters building, noting the April 1 closing. Construction is likely to start by early May and continue through the summer. While construction is ongoing, staff will engage in hoteling arrangements onsite, sharing work space. Commenting on the Update, President BYRNE commented that relationships with state association members are “at an all-time high,” based on her observations in the field, and thanked the Board for its focus on working to resolve hard issues like the Defined Benefit Pension Plan. In reporting on the budget parameters and process, GENTZEL and DEAN jointly presented the budget philosophy, and the focus on building a conservative budget based on goals NSBA can achieve, paired with stretch goals, underscoring the goal to build reserves.

National School Boards Association Board Highlights April 20, 2015 - Page 3 of 6

GENTZEL reported on strategic planning preparation to take place in June at the next Board meeting. With a clear and stated focus around advocacy and member service, next steps center on how we prioritize the work ahead. As Chair of the NSBAC Board, Kevin CIAK shared a brief NSBAC update, noting that one vacancy remains on the NSBAC Board, with all other Board appointments complete. He noted that in the exercise at Advocacy Institute to encourage people to become a “Friend of Public Education,” there were 200 additional sign-ups. Departmental updates in the form of written reports were shared for State Association and School Board Leadership Services; NSBA Operations; NSBA’s Legal Advocacy Agenda; NSBA’s Federal Advocacy Agenda; and Public Advocacy & Communications. Associate Executive Director Michael ZOLA added to his written report submission with a brief update on Advocacy Institute survey results. Associate Executive Director Lisa BUSHEY added to her written report with a “highlights reel” that recapped recent activity on the Feb. 18-20 Satellite Media Tour around “Stand Up 4 Public Schools” that featured GENTZEL and celebrity public schools advocate Montel WILLIAMS. Board Committee updates included the Policies and Resolutions Committee; Constitutions & Bylaws Committee; Ad Hoc School Boards of the Future Committee; Ad Hoc NSBA Shannon Award Committee; NSBA Board Policy Review Committee; and the Agenda for Action Committee. Southern Region Director Bob ALVEY reported that the Ad Hoc School Boards of the Future Committee had three requests: (1) to recognize the various state association staff who worked on the re-work of the Key Work for their great work; (2) that state association executive directors and state association presidents be asked for feedback on the “Future of School Boards” white paper; and (3) that 12 months out, each of the state associations be asked for feedback on the Key Work document, as its digital format allows for more rapid update. Northeast Region Director S. Scott MUELLER reviewed proposed edits to the charge and timeline for the Shannon Award Process 2016. On behalf of the Agenda for Action Committee, Director, Center for Public Education (CPE), Patte BARTH introduced the Board to “Leading the Change,” tools developed by NSBA’s CPE with the assistance of a working group comprised of school leaders from CUBE and the caucuses. Efforts are underway to fund an expanded phase II of the project that will identify actions and behaviors of school boards that played a key role in the transformation of schools in their districts. A newly enacted per diem policy was rescinded and remanded to the Policies & Resolutions Committee for Committee review and recommendation. In the Executive Director’s report, GENTZEL highlighted several key accomplishments, including the State of the Association report and the re-work of the Key Work of School Boards.

National School Boards Association Board Highlights April 20, 2015 - Page 4 of 6

In the President’s Report, BYRNE spoke of her year as president as “extraordinary,” referring to it as the “opportunity of a lifetime.” Noting her travels to member state associations, BYRNE referenced the importance of “putting a face to the NSBA Board,” and highlighted several key accomplishments – the sale of the NSBA building to achieve Glide Path, the “Leading the Change” initiative to turn around lowperforming schools, the re-work of the Key Work of School Boards, and her presidential theme, “Leading Children to Excellence.” BYRNE asked Board members to think through their “Big Ideas” and contribute these at an upcoming Board meeting. POST ANNUAL CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING At its March 23, 2015, meeting, the Board requested close review of the Governance Calendar with a particular focus on the number of Board meetings. The Board elected three at-large representatives to the Executive Committee: Southern Region Director Bob ALVEY; Southern Region Director Beth BRANHAM; and Pacific Region Director Anne RITTER. All members of the Board of Directors signed and submitted a Code of Ethics form. The Board of Directors previewed the 2015-16 Governance Calendar. A motion was made and carried to move the September Board meeting on the Calendar to August to be attached to the NSBA Summer Leadership Seminar in Chicago, which added an extra day (24h) for Board members only (the Summer Leadership Seminar runs from Aug. 20-23). The Calendar was further amended to arrange an in-person meeting of the Board in November (dates to be determined). In his Past Presidents’ Report, chair, Past Presidents’ Council, C. Edward MASSEY shared that past presidents were pleased about the April 1 building sale and also were pleased about the Glide Path Plan put in place to resolve the pension issue. MASSEY noted that past presidents enjoyed their role and support of the Exhibits Hall at Annual Conference, noting that past presidents would like to support the Exhibits Hall again, value the ability to engage, and want to contribute in any way the Board sees fit. In his Executive Director’s Report, GENTZEL welcomed new Board members, and told them he would put together a “care package” of material from the past year to acclimate them – GENTZEL’s monthly “Leaning Forward” report and “Board Highlights,” which the full Board later requested be delivered to them also. GENTZEL cited the April 1 closing of the sale of the NSBA headquarters building, and told the Board that NSBA would confirm with them once the sale is official, and once the proceeds are put into the pension plan.

National School Boards Association Board Highlights April 20, 2015 - Page 5 of 6

To inform strategic planning discussion at the June Board meeting, GENTZEL spoke of the importance of viewing results from an upcoming member survey on members’ reactions to existing programs and services and the value of environmental scanning to identify and perhaps model best practices of other organizations. Describing the arc and trajectory of the association as centered on legislative, legal, and public advocacy and member service, GENTZEL spoke of upcoming strategic planning efforts to identify where NSBA will head in the next couple of years and identify major goals. GENTZEL spoke of a “related piece,” as the upcoming governance review. As a governance review can have many meanings to different people, GENTZEL spoke of the need to establish a “common definition” across the Board to establish the scope of the review. Following an executive session review of the Executive Director’s performance, the Board voted unanimously to extend GENTZEL’s contract by an additional year, to June 30, 2018. In her President’s Report, Anne BYRNE spoke of this as an “amazing year,” noting that incoming President John TUTTLE would “take NSBA to an even higher level.” On the NSBAC Board, outgoing President Kevin CIAK reported the Board’s re-appointment of Pacific Region Director JoDee SUNDBERG to NSBAC Board seat #4; and Wyoming School Boards Association Area Director Janine BAY-TESKE to NSBAC seat #7. The Board appointed Northeast Region Director Lydia TEDONE to occupy Seat #3, held by Secretary-Treasurer CIAK. CIAK now serves as Immediate Past President of the NSBAC Board. All Board Committee assignments developed by President TUTTLE were shared with the full Board. In his first meeting as NSBA Board President, TUTTLE spoke of Board goals for the coming year. ALVEY asked that GENTZEL give the NSBA staff the Board’s thanks and appreciation for their hard work and visible presence at Annual Conference, stating that “they [staff] were everywhere.” NEW NSBA STAFF Titles and contact information for NSBA employees hired since March 2015 follow: Executive Operations Leila Vossoughi, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, [email protected], 703-838-6222.

National School Boards Association Board Highlights April 20, 2015 - Page 6 of 6