Exemplary Board Application - 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. EXEMPLARY BOARD RECOGNITION applications must be submitted by September 30, 2020, extended from April 15. Similar information is provided for Quality and Distinguished 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 on completing district goals, and has been posted on the district's website for stakeholders review.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. [yes/no] Please list web link for your current strategic plan: Please list web link for your balanced scorecards or accountability system: Please list web link for your website evidence of strategic plan and your scorecards or accountability system being posted to your website: Question Title * 6. GEORGIA VISION PROJECTEXPECTATIONThe board has approved the Vision Resolution and incorporated at least fifteen 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 Governance Team has incorporated at least 15 of the Georgia Vision Project local school district recommendations into the system’s Strategic Plan. Please list the link showing the Vision Project recommendations your board has adopted into your Strategic Plan below: Question Title * 7. ASSESSMENTEXPECTATIONThe Governance Team (Board and Superintendent) conducts a Self-Assessment using a Self-Assessment Instrument; then an Exemplary Committee (EC) conducts an assessment using the same instrument. The Exemplary Committee should be composed of different members than the Distinguished Committee and has as a minimum 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; then an Exemplary Committee completed an assessment using the same instrument. (GSBA Governance Team Self-Assessment instrument or equivalent instrument may be used.) [yes/no] Provide the link to the Governance Team Self-Assessment instrument including ratings. Provide the Exemplary Committee Assessment instrument including ratings. The Governance Team has reviewed and considered any Exemplary Committee improvement recommendations. [yes/no] Question Title * 8. 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. Evidence of use must be submitted upon request by GSBA. Provide the link below to the latest Superintendent Evaluation instrument that was utilized for the evaluation process. GSBA does not need the completed form with ratings, just the sample of the instrument utilized. Web Link of Superintendent Evaluation: Question Title * 9. 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 ALL 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 Exemplary Board recognition program recognizes local boards of education that meet and exceed the training requirements. ALL board members 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 ALL HAVE EXCEEDED the annual training requirement by a minimum of THREE additional credit hours. (18 credit hours for new board members and 12 credit hours for veteran board members) Additional credit hours will be considered from state approved and non-state approved training providers. The system agrees to provide documentation of completed courses to GSBA upon request. Provide a link to a list of all board members with the title of the program, instructor and date of each to verify credits: Question Title * 10. 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 link to the district's latest accreditation status report from AdvancED: Question Title * 11. BOARD MEMBER ETHICS EXPECTATIONAll 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 latest signed DOE Local School Board Governance Training Report that includes the training board members received and their signatures on the Code of Ethics. Provide a web Link to your local Code of Ethics policy. Question Title * 12. FISCAL RESPONSIBLITYEXPECTATIONAnnually 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 your most recent District Budget Calendar Budget Adoption Date Question Title * 13. VERIFICATION OF MATERIALS : EXPECTATIONThe school board is required to provide documentation as part of the qualification process to meet Exemplary Status.RATIONALEThe school board should be able to produce documents/materials that show it has met all criteria for recognition as an Exemplary School Board. Yes, the board is ready to send documentation to GSBA upon request. List documentation question below (if applies) Question Title * 14. RECOGNITION REMOVAL EXPECTATIONExemplary Board Recognition can be removed for good cause as determined by GSBA.RATIONALEIf the School Board “no longer meets” the Exemplary Board Recognition criteria during the recognition period, then recognition is withdrawn. The School Board pledges to implement and maintain all criteria required for the Exemplary Board Recognition Level. Question Title * 15. RENEWAL CYCLEEXPECTATIONRenew Annually: July 1, 2019 - June 4, 2020RATIONALEThe third level of the recognition program is the Exemplary Board Recognition and is awarded for qualified boards that have met the criteria for such. All Exemplary 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 credits must be completed by 5 p.m. on September 30, 2020. The board understands and agrees to the renewal cycle. List renewal cycle question below (if applies) Question Title * 16. The [LIST SYSTEM IN SPACE BELOW] County/City Board of Education certifies that all Exemplary Board Recognition criteria has been implemented and/or completed. Question Title * 17. Date of Board Approval Approval Date: Date Submit