Distinguished Board-2020 In 1998, the Georgia School Boards Association was one of the first school board associations in the nation to develop a program of standards for local boards of education. Because the Georgia Board of Education adopted a set of state standards for local boards of education in 2011, GSBA has revised its recognition program to reflect the state standards and also to offer school boards additional ways to increase their effectiveness. DISTINGUISHED BOARD RECOGNITION applications must be submitted by September 30, 2020, extended from April 15. Similar information is provided for Quality Board and Exemplary Board recognitions on the GSBA web site. Boards may now apply at whatever level for which they meet the criteria. No longer does a board have to earn the recognition in any particular order. Question Title * 1. School System Name: Question Title * 2. Superintendent Name: Question Title * 3. Board Chair Name: Question Title * 4. Person Completing this Application and Title Question Title * 5. STRATEGIC PLANNING EXPECTATIONA System Strategic Plan has been adopted, currently being implemented and includes balanced scorecards or accountability system on completing district goals.RATIONALEA System Strategic Plan and its alignment with school improvement plans are vital to the continuous improvement process. Adoption of the plan and the process used by the governance team reinforces its importance throughout the system and community. A System Strategic Plan has been adopted and is being implemented with balanced scorecards or accountability system completed to measure progress on accomplishing the stated improvement goals. Please provide the web link for your Strategic Plan: Please provide the web link for your balanced scorecards or accountability system: Question Title * 6. GEORGIA VISION PROJECTEXPECTATIONThe board has approved the Vision Resolution and incorporated at least ten of the Georgia Vision Project local school district recommendations into the system’s Strategic Plan.RATIONALEThe Georgia Vision Project was created by Georgia educational leaders using researched best practices and data to support it. Governance teams are encouraged to review this work, discuss the implications in their own system, and identify opportunities, where appropriate, to incorporate the Vision recommendations into its system’s Strategic Plan. The goal is that public education will provide an equitable and excellent education that prepares all students for college, career, and life. The board has reviewed and/or adopted the Vision Resolution and incorporated at least ten of the Georgia Vision Project local school district recommendations into the system’s Strategic Plan. Please list the web link for the Georgia Vision Project recommendations adopted by your system. Question Title * 7. SELF-ASSESSMENTEXPECTATIONThe Governance Team (Board and Superintendent) conducts a Self-Assessment; then a Distinguished Committee (DC) conducts an assessment using the same instrument. The Distinguished Committee (DC), as a minimum, consists of 2 community stakeholders, 2 board members and a central office administrator.RATIONALEMembers of a local school board are to "manage and control" and make decisions on many aspects of public school operations. The school board’s day-to-day responsibilities are generally delegated to the superintendent. This criterion assesses the processes, procedures and best practices utilized by the Governance Team in providing school district leadership. The Governance Team completed the Annual Self-Assessment. (GSBA Governance Team Self-Assessment instrument or equivalent instrument may be used.) Please list the web link to the Governance Team Self-Assessment with ratings: Question Title * 8. DISTINGUISHED COMMITTEE ASSESSMENTEXPECTATIONThe Governance Team (Board and Superintendent) conducts a Self-Assessment; then a Distinguished Committee (DC) conducts an assessment using the same instrument. The board will review the DC recommendations for further consideration. The Distinguished Committee (DC), as a minimum, consists of 2 community stakeholders, 2 board members and a central office administrator.RATIONALEMembers of a local school board are to "manage and control" and make decisions on many aspects of public school operations. The school board’s day-to-day responsibilities are generally delegated to the superintendent. This criterion assesses the processes, procedures and best practices utilized by the Governance Team in providing school district leadership. After the Governance Team completed their Annual Self-Assessment, a Distinguished Committee completed an assessment using the same instrument. (GSBA Governance Team Self-Assessment instrument or equivalent instrument can be used.) The Governance Team has reviewed and considered any committee improvement recommendations. Please list the web link to the Distinguished Committee Assessment with ratings: Question Title * 9. SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION GA Code § 20-2-210EXPECTATIONThe annual Superintendent Evaluation Instrument, as a minimum, incorporates some of the Strategic Plan District Goals. (GSBA Superintendent Evaluation Instrument or equivalent instrument may be used.)RATIONALEThe board, as part of the Governance Team, is required by state law to annually evaluate the superintendent’s performance. The evaluation instrument should address the specific goals to be evaluated and identify evidence of performance. The Superintendent Evaluation Instrument should be linked to the System’s Strategic Plan. A Superintendent Evaluation Instrument has been adopted that reflects state requirements and incorporates some of the System’s Strategic Plan improvement goals. Provide the link to the latest Superintendent instrument that was utilized for the Superintendent Evaluation process. NOTE: GSBA does not need the completed instrument, just a sample of the instrument. Web Link:: Question Title * 10. LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION TRAINING REQUIREMENTSEXPECTATIONThe local board of education exceeds the State Board of Education’s annual training requirements by a minimum of three additional credit hours by the majority of board members. RATIONALEAs part of the training program adopted by the State Board of Education, the Georgia Department of Education must confirm board member training credit hours. The GSBA Distinguished Board recognition program recognizes local boards of education that meet and exceed the training requirements. All board members must meet the minimum requirements and the majority must exceed the minimum by three additional hours. All board members have met the State training credit requirements, (15 credit hours for new board members and 9 credit hours for veteran board members) and the majority of the board members have exceeded the annual training requirement by a minimum of three additional credit hours. Provide a web link to a list of all board members with the title of the program, instructor and date of each to verify credits: Question Title * 11. ACCREDITATIONEXPECTATIONThe board of education and school district comply with standards of all selected accreditation associations applicable. RATIONALEAccreditation is considered an external measure of the quality of education provided in a school district. The valid external measures with required best practices and the impact on student scholarships make this criterion mandatory. The GSBA recognition program does not require a specific accreditation agency. The school district is in compliance with all selected accreditation agencies applicable. Please provide a web link to the district's latest accreditation status report from AdvancED: Question Title * 12. BOARD MEMBER ETHICSEXPECTATIONAll board members will abide by their local Code of Ethics Policy.Review Code of Ethics Policy annually at a board of education meeting. Address any infractions by members as per board policy. Provide a web link to the latest signed Local School Board Governance DOE Training Report that includes the training board members received and their signatures agreeing to the Code of Ethics. Provide a web link to your local Code of Ethics policy. Question Title * 13. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITYEXPECTATIONAnnually adopt a balanced budget.RATIONALERegular review/updates of district finances by the governance leadership team in public meetings. Develop an annual budget that includes public meetings and public input. Provide a link to most recent District Budget Calendar List Budget Adoption Date Question Title * 14. VERIFICATION OF MATERIALSEXPECTATIONThe school board is required to provide documentation as part of the qualification process to meet Distinguished Status.RATIONALEThe school board should be able to produce documents/materials that show it has met all criteria for recognition as a Distinguished School Board. Yes the board is ready to send documentation to GSBA upon request. Question Title * 15. RECOGNITION REMOVAL EXPECTATIONDistinguished Board Recognition can be removed for good cause as determined by GSBA.RATIONALEIf the School Board “no longer meets” the Distinguished Board Recognition criteria during the recognition period, then recognition is withdrawn. The School Board pledges to implement and maintain all criteria required for the Distinguished Board Recognition Level. Question Title * 16. RENEWAL CYCLEEXPECTATIONRenew Annually July 1, 2019 – June 4, 2020.RATIONALEThe second level of the recognition program is the Distinguished Board Recognition. All Distinguished Board Recognition level criteria should be completed prior to deadline and the application must be submitted to GSBA by September 30, 2020, extended from April 15. All training credits must be completed by 5 p.m. on September 30, 2020. The board understands and agrees to follow the renewal cycle. List renewal cycle question below (if applies) Question Title * 17. The [LIST SYSTEM IN SPACE BELOW] County/City Board of Education certifies that all Distinguished Board Recognition criteria has been implemented and/or completed. Question Title * 18. Date of Board Approval Approval Date: Date Submit