GSBA Exemplary Board 2018 Application

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 May 4 –– Extended from April 16, 2018. Similar information is provided for Quality and Distinguished Board recognitions on the GSBA web site. Boards seeking EXEMPLARY Status MUST have previously earned the GSBA Distinguished Board Recognition.

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* 1. School System Name:

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* 2. Superintendent Name:

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* 3. Board Chair Name:

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* 4. Person Completing this Application and Title

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* 5. STRATEGIC PLANNING

EXPECTATION
A 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.

RATIONALE
A 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 scorecards completed to measure progress on accomplishing the stated improvement goals.

Please list your link for your strategic plan below.

Web Link:

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* 6. STRATEGIC PLANNING

EXPECTATION
A 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.

RATIONALE
A 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 scorecards completed to measure progress on accomplishing the stated improvement goals.

Please list your link for your scorecards below.

Web Link:

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* 7. STRATEGIC PLANNING

EXPECTATION
A 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.

RATIONALE
A 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 scorecards completed to measure progress on accomplishing the stated improvement goals.

Please list your link for your website evidence of Strategic Plan and scorecards being posted to your website.

Web Link:

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* 8. GEORGIA VISION PROJECT

EXPECTATION
The board has approved the Vision Resolution and incorporated fifteen of the Georgia Vision Project local school district recommendations into the system’s Strategic Plan.

RATIONALE
The 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 Governance Team has incorporated fifteen of the Georgia Vision Project local school district recommendations into the system’s Strategic Plan.

Please list the link showing the 15 Vision Project recommendations your board has adopted into your Strategic Plan below.

Web Link:

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* 9. ASSESSMENT

EXPECTATION
The 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 board will review the EC recommendations for further consideration.

RATIONALE
Members 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. The Exemplary Committee is composed of different members than the Distinguished Internal Committee and has as a minimum 2 community stakeholders, 2 board members and a central office administrator. (GSBA Governance Team Self-Assessment instrument or equivalent instrument may be used.) The Governance Team has reviewed and considered any Exemplary Committee improvement recommendations.

Provide the link to the Governance Team Self-Assessment instrument including ratings utilized below.

Web Link:

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* 10. ASSESSMENT

EXPECTATION
The 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 board will review the EC recommendations for further consideration.

RATIONALE
Members 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.

Provide the link to the Exemplary Committee Assessment including ratings utilized below.

Web Link:

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* 11. SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION GA Code § 20-2-210

EXPECTATION
The annual Superintendent Evaluation Instrument, as a minimum, incorporates the Strategic Plan District Goals. (GSBA Superintendent Evaluation Instrument or equivalent instrument may be used.)

RATIONALE
The 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 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 want/need the completed form with ratings, just the sample of the instrument utilized.

Web Link:

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* 12. LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

EXPECTATION
The 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.

RATIONALE
As 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 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.

Web Link:

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* 13. ACCREDITATION

EXPECTATION
The board of education and school district comply with standards of all selected accreditation associations applicable.

RATIONALE
Accreditation 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.

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* 14. BOARD MEMBER ETHICS

EXPECTATION
All 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 link to the latest signed DOE Local School Board Governance Training Report that includes training board members received and their signing off of the Code of Ethics.

Web Link:

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* 15. BOARD MEMBER ETHICS

EXPECTATION
All 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 link to the latest local Code of Ethics Policy below.

Web Link:

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

EXPECTATION
Annually adopt a balanced budget.

RATIONALE
Regular review/updates of district finances by the governance leadership team in public meetings. Develop an annual budget that includes public meetings and public input.

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* 16. Enter date the BOE adopted the latest balanced budget here.

Budget Adoption Date

Date

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* 17. FISCAL RESPONSIBLITY

EXPECTATION
Annually adopt a balanced budget.

RATIONALE
Regular 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 Calendar Link:

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* 18. RECOGNITION REMOVAL

EXPECTATION
Exemplary Board Recognition can be removed for good cause as determined by GSBA.

RATIONALE
If 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.

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* 19. VERIFICATION OF MATERIALS :

EXPECTATION
The school board is required to provide documentation as part of the qualification process to meet Exemplary Status.

RATIONALE
The 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)

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* 20. RENEWAL CYCLE

EXPECTATION
Renew Annually: July 1, 2017 - June 7, 2018

RATIONALE
The third level of the recognition program is the Exemplary Board Recognition and is awarded for qualified boards that have met the first two levels and additional criteria. All Exemplary Board Recognition level criteria should be completed prior to deadline and the application must be submitted to GSBA by April 16, 2018. The last credits needed after the April 15 deadline must be completed by 5 PM on Thursday, June 7, 2018. All levels of GSBA Board Recognition will be awarded at the Summer Conference.

*The Governance Team must submit verification that the Exemplary Board criteria continues to be met by completing the Exemplary online application each year and providing documentation materials upon request.

The board understands that it must submit verification that the Exemplary Board criteria continues to be met by completing the Exemplary online application each year.

List renewal cycle question below (if applies)

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* 21. The [LIST SYSTEM IN SPACE BELOW] County/City Board of Education certifies that all Exemplary Board Recognition criteria has been implemented and/or completed.

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* 22. Date of Board Approval

Approval Date:

Date

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* 1. School System Name:

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* 2. Superintendent Name:

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* 3. Board Chair Name:

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* 4. Person Completing this Application and Title

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* 14. 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.

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* 15. 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.

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* 16. Enter date the BOE adopted the latest balanced budget here.

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* 17. 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.

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* 18. 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.

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* 21. The [LIST SYSTEM IN SPACE BELOW] County/City Board of Education certifies that all Exemplary Board Recognition criteria has been implemented and/or completed.

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* 22. Date of Board Approval

* 14. BOARD MEMBER ETHICS

EXPECTATION
All 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.

* 15. BOARD MEMBER ETHICS

EXPECTATION
All 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.

* 17. FISCAL RESPONSIBLITY

EXPECTATION
Annually adopt a balanced budget.

RATIONALE
Regular review/updates of district finances by the governance leadership team in public meetings. Develop an annual budget that includes public meetings and public input.

* 18. RECOGNITION REMOVAL

EXPECTATION
Exemplary Board Recognition can be removed for good cause as determined by GSBA.

RATIONALE
If the School Board “no longer meets” the Exemplary Board Recognition criteria during the recognition period, then recognition is withdrawn.