Washington State School Directors' Association ’s Post

Transcript

See this one? What I love about this one is a great example of showing how when you speak as an individual school board member, you are representing the entire board, even if it's accidentally. And it it can happen not only in formal situations, but this is a pretty informal situation where you're sitting around a table talking about potential solutions. It sounds like a brainstorming environment, but an idea that comes out is inadvertently seen as an entire board view. OK. So in this situation, I mean it's always good to go into meetings like this, remembering that you are one of five, that's that's the little litany I put in my head, one of five, one of five and that's you have to be very mindful of what you say. Sometimes when I'm in committees like this, I'm there to help the committee understand what information the board needs as a decision like this moves through the process. So instead of offering up suggestions, I'll say well, if you need board input, this is the kind of information. You know, the board would really appreciate as they sit down to study this, this issue. So that way you're contributing to the process in a really helpful way actually without getting really specific and advertently getting into this, you know, and there are some ramifications of inadvertently sounding like you're representing the entire board. You know, you could be saying something other board members don't agree with and if they haven't had the opportunity to weigh in, they might misunderstand the situation and think that perhaps. This is. Not going through the normal board processes and it could cause a strain in the relationship which would really be unfortunate and also to the Superintendent and staff could get confusion. If if you come up with an idea that is different from what the board has discovered or discussed as a whole. Now they have two different ideas from the board and it can cause a lot of confusion and stress out. So what would I do about this situation right? I would first of all clarify what that teacher right? OK, like take that opportunity right away and say oh oh, I hope I'm, I am apologizing that I was misunderstood. I was in caught up in the moment and brainstorming, but it's not something the board has discussed as a body. And so I just want to be very clear and then I would absolutely go back to the Superintendent. And let them know what went on so they can perhaps communicate with staff so that the misunderstanding can get cleared up. Back to that, No surprises back to that. No surprises, right. Yeah, Some sometimes that's a, uh, I need to let them know what happened here wasn't my intent, but this is how it turned out and everyone is in the loop that way, right. So just to summarize, I heard you talk about clarifying your role as you're part of that committee, letting them know that you're there as an individual board member, not representing the board, and then following up. Afterwards, just to clarify, right. And I think something like this comes from a good place in general. Staff wants to support the board, right? And if you have an idea that they get excited about, it comes from the best of intentions. You just want to keep an eye out for those unintended consequences. Absolutely. Great. I'm glad we had this discussion. I'm so I think maybe we've solved a few problems that we have. OK, Hopefully that gives you some ideas of how to problem solve issues that come up as you're working. In your role as the school board member.