WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
2021 NEW BOARD MEMBER SERIES MONTHLY WEBINARS
Sign up for each month's New Board Member Series webinar where you'll join fellow new board members to hear from experts on a topic pertinent to your first year of service. There will be an opportunity for Q & A as well!
Any new board member who attends eight of the 11 New Board Member Series webinars live from January through November will receive a certificate of completion and be recognized at our Dec. 8 webinar as an official 2021 New Board Member Alum.
A WELCOME FROM MASB STAFF
BENEFITS
MASB is a voluntary, nonprofit association of 600+ local and intermediate boards of education located throughout Michigan, representing all public school districts in the state. It is the only statewide organization that represents the school governance perspective.
As a membership, we can exchange ideas and experiences while working toward the shared goal of a strong and healthy public education system that meets the current and future needs of our students.
GROWTH
Professional growth is a critical component for any job, especially one that oversees the education of Michigan’s children and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Board members, charged with guiding and leading change in their local schools, need to be: Aware of emerging educational issues and the latest laws and mandates Familiar with the current best practices, innovations and use of data that lead to increased student achievement Know how to navigate through many operational- and personnel-related matters. Based on a February 2014 EPIC-MRA statewide survey, nearly three out of four respondents believe professional development instruction for school board members was either “Essential” or at least “Very Important.”
ADVOCACY
The MASB Government Relations Department represents the views of MASB member districts with federal and state legislative leaders, and works to open the lines of communication between locally elected school board members and the elected officials in Lansing and Washington, D.C. These views are established by gathering input from MASB members and having the Board of Directors approve the Association’s legislative priorities. Information on pending legislation and current issues affecting public education is available online through the eVocate system, along with a weekly e-newsletter, News From the Capitol, sent when the Michigan Legislature is in session. Learn more about MASB’s current short- and long-term legislative priorities, state and national legislative activities and information, and current topics in education here.
RECOGNITION
School board members can earn awards for improving their leadership skills, demonstrating their commitment to student achievement and investing in their own continuous improvement. Awards are earned for classes completed in MASB’s training program, as well as for conference attendance and leadership activities. MORE
KNOWLEDGE
The origin of school boards occurred when the colonial legislature of Massachusetts passed a law that gave people the power to establish schools. In the 17th century, Selectmen, the elected representatives of the people, appointed townspeople to a committee to oversee schools. This was the beginning of local control of schools by lay citizens. From this beginning, school boards evolved.
It is our mission to provide high-quality educational leadership services for all Michigan boards of education, and to advocate for an equitable and exceptional public education for all students.
1001 Centennial Way, Suite 400 • Lansing, Michigan 48917-8249 • 517.327.5900 • fax 517.327.0775 • info@masb.org