Boards of Trustees

[Anonymous]

These two examples hardly prove that the most high-powered parent *usually* do have the time and interest to serve on local private school boards.

I think we're venturing into gilt by association territory here, LOL (and, yes, that's a pun -- not a misspelling).

Back to the original question. So is the consensus answer that most schools don't have an elected board and that the people chosen to be on the board are usually big contributors (but what they contribute may vary by school and/or by individual)? And that there's disagreement about whether such boards should/can/do serve as representatives of the current parent body and/or other constituencies?

[Anonymous]

I realize private school BODs vary. However, at the schools my DCs have attended the BODs give the impression that they are big donors; some of the schools even state that large donations are a requirement to become a member; however this isn’t really true. It surprises me how the community buys into this “large donor” belief because donations are always published by the schools, in giving categories, so this can be easily verified. I remember at one of my DCs schools the chair of the BOD contributed at most $450! My DCs schools’ BOD selection reminds me of when I was a middle school cheerleader - it’s a popularity contest. Ideally, a BOD will not be self appointed and rather be elected by the community. Ideally, there will be term limits. Ideally the BOD will really care about the school instead of being on some kind of ego trip. Ideally the BOD won’t view the position as an “honorary” position and realize they have a responsibility. The heads and staff make a school successful, but if a school is having problems, the BOD needs to be awake and take action. Unfortunately, too many boards don’t view it this way. They are more worried about the weekend retreats they attend as a “reward” for their service. I also really like the fact that at my DCs schools the women volunteer a tremendous amount of time to the school and then ask the husband to become a board member. Very sexist to me and everyone seems to think it’s OK.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Especially the last sentence.

[Anonymous]

I am a woman, serve on the Board of an independent school, and do not even come close to considering it an ego trip. It is a big commitment of time and frankly money.

For those of you questioning the Boards of your school I encourage you to attend a meeting (if they are open meetings, some are), get involved in the school, express interest in being considered for a Board position, ask to speak to a Board member about your concerns, get a copy of the by laws or other governing documents so you know the role of the Board, etc.. I find that many parents believe that the Board is involved in the day to day operations of the school and that is in fact specifically what the Board is not involved in. We set policy, set long term direction and priorities and hire/fire the head of School.

[Anonymous]

Hooray, a post (PP's, 21:21) with first-hand knowledge! Good informative post.

[Anonymous]

PP, there was nothing informative about the 21:21’s post – she just said the same rhetoric that all board members give.

[Anonymous]

LOL, so true!

I especially appreciate the suggestion that those who ask these kinds of questions about their school's Board should "get involved in the school" -- as if the questions must come from ignorance rather than observation.

[Anonymous]

22:16, you might choose to disbelieve the information in 21:21's post or frame it as "rhetoric," but I thought it had helpful suggestions for how (other than reading anonymous posts that don't identify the school) interested parents can find out more about the school. And I do not doubt that many parents erroneously think the boards are running things day to day (to the level of apparently leaning on college counselors for good recommendation letters). I realize it is more fun to gripe and complain but then don't expect people with first-hand knowledge to contribute anything to these discussions.

[Anonymous]

I previously served on the board of one of the big three.

The board was made up probably 80% of parents; 15% former parents; and 5% alums (who are not also parents/former parents). The key factors for participation on the board, in my opinion, were:
- having a background in finance/mgmt/law/education/etc. that would be valuable to the board's activities/duties. (E.g., the finance commitee oversees investment of the endowment, negotiates construction loans; the employee benefits committee oversees retirement plan and health benefits, including interacting with the insurance providers and 401(k) plan service providers; other committees oversee the school's buildings/maintenance/utilities, oversight of hiring/firing of teachers, etc, selection of new trustees, selection of new school headmaster/mistress, etc.
- willingness to contribute time/energy to the board and to the school
- willingness to make a substantial financial contribution (most people gave @$7,500-$15,000/year, though some gave much less ($250-$500) and others much more -- 25K+)
- having an outgoing, friendly, and "reasonable" personality

I can tell you that at meetings, we really wanted people to participate in meetings, to ask questions, and voice opinions. It's no place for wallflowers nor is it a place for blowhards or jerks or anyone who thinks his/her opinion is the only correct one. Committee members were also expected to be on top of their projects and were expected to provide input on issues (and perhaps make a short presentation) when their topics were on the agenda.

Yes, our board had a trustee selection/nomination committee that kept track of trustee terms of office and put together each year a list of possible nominees (with background details and pros (no cons) of each individual). The committee would present the proposed list to the full board each year and as I recall the board would always tell the committee it approved the list (whereupon the committee would contact the individuals to see if they were interested in being nominated).

By the way, I completely disagree with the comment that board members are generally not the overworked parents with careers. On the contrary, I was amazed at the "who's who" of corporate DC on the board on which I served. These were people who were really successful and really good and because of that, everyone wanted a piece of their time, including our school (I have no idea whether they were also good parents to their kids, but that's another post topic). These were generally people who were senior enough and mature enough that they could fit in occasional board-related meetings.

Finally, there's a good dose of a social aspect to being on the board, so members are also generally fun and friendly people. In addition to board meetings and committee meetings, there are occasional dinners and parties -- some at school, some at the headmaster's house, some at a board member's house. In selecting new board members, this aspect is not ignored by the selection committee. Thus, if someone aspires to be on the board, even if a top corporate executive or law firm partner, if he or she gets a reputation for being a parent who's pushy or anti-social or someone who doesn't follow-through (volunteers to help with a school project and then bags out, e.g.), there's a decent chance that word will get to the committee and it could affect that person's chances of making the list.

Someone who wants to get on the board needs to get noticed by enough of the right people. Things that'll help:

- (1) yes, giving generously to the annual fund. Also, giving generously at the annual auction and any capital campaigns. Do so every year.
- (2) Volunteer activities. Not just any though -- you want to do some that get you noticed by the development office and the headmaster/mistress. The more important, the better - - e.g., chairing the silent auction or annual fund or annual golf tournament. Doing it just once may be sufficient.
- (3) volunteering to host class parent dinners or other social events (or any school parties) at your house.
- (4) being unfailingly friendly, generous, and professional. Regarding being professional, that goes for demeanor as well as appearance. Even if it's your usual Saturday regime, don't show up to the homecoming football game unshaven with bedhead and wearing the dirty jeans you just wore to clean the garage.
-- (5) It also helps to make sure you know the names of the school's senior people and which of your kids' classmate-parents are on the board (or may one day be on the board because, e.g., they fall into (1) or (2)).

(1) and (2) are somewhat flexible -- giving gobs of money or being a volunteer superstar will get you noticed no matter what -- even if you do lots of one and little of the other.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, 1:26! I think that your account is pretty close to what people on my DC's school's Board would say as well.

I guess here's where the selection issue comes into play. Our school is full of parents who are successful in their careers and who have expertise in finance/mgmt/law/education/etc. And parents who are serious volunteers taking on big projects. So there's a large pool in terms of expertise and sweat equity.

At which point the question becomes who emerges from that pool to end up on the Board. At our school (which, BTW, I'm confident is not 1:26's school), of all the more subjective criteria mentioned, the one that seems to have the most explanatory value is gets along well socially with other members of the board.

Big donor (not subjective but also information I don't have access to) is also clearly a key piece of the puzzle, though, I suspect, a more fluid one. (E.g. I don't assume the board members are the largest/most established donors. They may well be the people whose personalities and resources make them most likely to significantly increase their donations if they feel recognized and welcomed to the inner circle.)

I have no desire to be on our school's board -- I just wish it were a lot more diverse and had more people whose judgment and character I respect. (I also really dislike the previously-mentioned phenomenon wherein some womens' volunteer work leads to their husbands' appointment to the board). In the end, I think that the fake election pisses me off the most. But that may be only because in the time our family has been involved with this school it's had a strong headmaster whose judgment I generally have respected. If/when that changes, and the Board exercises more power, I may have deeper concerns.

[Anonymous]

Oh wow. I don't doubt this is all true and on some level necessary (the big donors, not the part about husbands of active wives) but there's something that just seems ugly about it. My DC goes to one of these schools and I feel (and DC also feels) that the culture of the school is dominated by the country-club set. The rest of us will never be fully accepted. I say this even though I also attend DC's school. I wonder if these schools consider the dribble down message of stacking their boards ONLY with corporate leaders who dress smartly for football games. The board raises money and makes policy but it also sets a tone.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this seems to be the ugly underbelly of private schools, and does not bear close inspection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh wow. I don't doubt this is all true and on some level necessary (the big donors, not the part about husbands of active wives) but there's something that just seems ugly about it. My DC goes to one of these schools and I feel (and DC also feels) that the culture of the school is dominated by the country-club set. The rest of us will never be fully accepted. I say this even though I also attend DC's school. I wonder if these schools consider the dribble down message of stacking their boards ONLY with corporate leaders who dress smartly for football games. The board raises money and makes policy but it also sets a tone.

21:21 here (criticized for spewing "rhetoric"). Granted the school whose Board I serve on is K-8 so perhaps not worthy of the ire of those on this thread. We don't have a football team, but I can assure you I was not selected for Board service based on my attire at sporting events. Maybe there are some schools like that but most of the ones I am familiar with don't fall into that category. Of course places like Sidwell and GDS aren't that country clubby anyway. I know people on the Board at both and they strike me as normal, hardworking, comitted people.

[SAM2]

Anonymous wrote:I don't doubt this is all true and on some level necessary ... but there's something that just seems ugly about it. My DC goes to one of these schools and I feel (and DC also feels) that the culture of the school is dominated by the country-club set. The rest of us will never be fully accepted. I say this even though I also attend DC's school.

I don't see what seems ugly about all this. Reading some of the posts from people who have been involved in school boards, it sounds like the key ingredients boil down to (1) willingness and (2) usefulness. That makes sense to me, and it's really the same combination that leads certain people to rise to leadership positions in most community groups. For example, who's the parent everyone voted to put in charge of my neighborhood's soccer league?: The person who comes to all the games, is good at organizing/cajoling other people to get to games on weekend mornings, and always remembers to bring water for everyone to drink. Similarly, I remember my own mom being pushed into a leadership role in my public school's PTA when I was a kid (much to my horror), simply because she rolled up her sleeves and helped out with the organization at lots of school events. Willingness and usefulness. "80% of being successful is just showing up."

I totally understand that a private school board is very different from a neighborhood soccer league or even a public school PTA, but the principles seem the same. According to what I've seen posted here, people selected for the board are parents who get very involved in the school (willingness), and who can contribute lots of time/money/effort/know-how (usefulness). If you're heavily involved in school activities that are comparable to school board service (e.g., organizing an event rather than just cheering at the baseball game), I suspect you'll quickly get accepted (and even forced) into leadership roles at the school. I'm sure plenty of willing/useful parents aren't asked to serve on school boards, but I suspect the people asked to serve on the school board are going to be the parents that are most willing and most useful (in some combination).

All that said, I'm sure every school is different, so maybe some of them are less democratic than others in school board participation.

[Anonymous]

11:09 again. I was reacting purely to 1:26 (21:21 I thought your post was thoughtful) with its reference to dinner parties, top corporate executives, "demeanor as well as appearance." There was a lot more going on there besides many hours of volunteer work. And this isn't like my mom and the PTA.