We must work smart.

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With tighter budgets than ever before in education, what do you do when the public questions the work of the board of education? This time of year when it seems like every citizen has something to say about the millage rate of their school system.

Well, as board members, it’s imperative that we are transparent in our governance. If we show our accountability through planning strategically, it takes the guesswork out of what we are doing on behalf of our community’s children. If we demonstrate effective decision making time after time then our communities eventually begin to place trust in us as boards. If we empower our system’s leadership team to implement the plan of the district, then the focus is truly where it should be…on children and their success.

So, questions are good—and, we as servant leaders in public education must model excellence in governance—we are in an age where we simply cannot afford anything other than WORKING SMART!!

Our contributor, Diane Sandifer

From local to state and national roles in public service, Diane Sandifer served on the Harris County Schools GA Board of Education from 1998-2008. Additionally, Diane was elected as president of the Georgia School Boards Association in 2006 and was a member of the National School Boards Association Board of Directors in 2007 and 2008. Diane advocates 21st century governance from the board room to the classroom through her passion for integration of technology as well as effective strategic planning. Diane represents school board members in statewide commissions and projects and has played an integral role in educational research through groups like the Wallace Foundation. Diane lives in Pine Mountain, Georgia and is currently the account executive for eBOARDsolutions.