ADVOCACY
It should be noted that the benefit of the NASB’s advocacy efforts for local school board members varies according to the size of the district. For many school districts, NASB is their only “full-time” legislative advocate. NASB works in conjunction with local school boards to assist in their own advocacy work. For the two largest school districts, NASB strives to complement and support their advocacy endeavors.
When legislators and other policy makers meet with individual school board members, their superintendents, or their government affairs’ representatives, they often and somewhat unintentionally view them through a single lens, such as the Clark County School District/Board, etc. By contrast, when legislators meet with NASB representatives, they know that the Association is obligated to represent and support policies that are best for student achievement for all school boards and all school districts. In this way, NASB is able to support and complement the advocacy efforts of each of our individual member boards as well as the Association.
Accomplishments 2006-2007:
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Worked collaboratively with school district transportation directors to provide the report required by Assembly Bill 411 from the 2005 Session about the use of seat belts in school buses, submitting the report on January 26, 2007, to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau and the Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson, “A Study about the Necessity for and Feasibility of the Use of Safety Restraints (Seat Belts) on School Buses in Nevada.”
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Communicated with members of the Nevada Delegation in Washington, D.C., to present concerns and proposals from school board members related to the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
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Collaborated and cooperated with the Nevada Association of School Superintendents and school district staff to develop and coordinate another successful, unified legislative proposal—iNVest ’07.
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During the 2007 Session of the Nevada Legislature, worked to improve many proposals by means of “friendly amendments” to maintain and, as appropriate, improve the authority, flexibility, and autonomy of local school boards in meeting local, state, and federal student achievement goals.
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Conducted a survey of local school boards about proposals to increase compensation for school board members and shared the findings of that survey with key legislators advancing the proposals.
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Coordinated testimony during the Legislative Session so that NASB and its local board members were continuously represented on issues of concern to the Association and school boards.
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Represented local school boards and districts throughout the 2007 Session on a number of issues.
BOARDSMANSHIP
NASB is committed to providing high quality school board member training and development opportunities focused on improving the effectiveness of local school board members in meeting their responsibilities. Through annual conferences, regional conferences, new board member workshops, and cooperative development opportunities with other organizations (such as NACO, NLOC, NASA, etc.) the Association strives to meet the needs of its members. As NASB continues to develop as an organization, both the frequency and the diversity of these training opportunities will increase.
As with any education endeavor, members derive a benefit according to the level of their participation. Along with the knowledge, skills, and attributes that are developed, honed, or introduced through NASB training, many local school board members value the opportunity to meet and network with their fellow school members throughout Nevada. Frequently, the main benefit of training, workshops, and conferences is the venue that is provided for individual board members to share with one another best practices and common concerns.
Accomplishments 2006-2007:
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Developed and conducted a successful two-day New Board Member Workshop attended by more than 30 newly elected or appointed 30 board members and several superintendents in March 2007; all seventeen school districts were represented at the Workshop. All attendees received copies of BECOMING A BETTER BOARD MEMBER.
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Developed and conducted another in a series of highly rated NASB Annual Conferences at the Pinon Plaza in Carson City, November 2006, attended by more than 95 school board members and 10 superintendents; all seventeen school districts were represented at the Conference.
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Continued to monitor the implementation of BoardBook, an electronic meeting agenda organizer system, leading to cost and time savings in two districts.
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Worked with several school districts to provide information about mediation services and developed lists of potential mediators to work with local school governance teams on issues of concern.
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Provided numerous articles about educational research on various issues at the request of individual school board members and superintendents, including the most recent report on the Status of Rural Education in America.
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Adapted and distributed charts containing critical information about all seventeen school districts (e.g., enrollment, demographics, diversity, teacher salaries, student achievement, etc.) for school board member use in public meetings and to respond to constituent requests.
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Attended school board meetings across the State, talking with school board members about their concerns and governance challenges as a way to improve the opportunities for growth and training made available by the Association to meet the needs of its members.
COMMUNICATION
NASB consistently works to create a framework that fosters communication among and between local school boards and the Association. Through NASB Executive Committee and Board of Director meetings, teleconferences, general membership meetings, mailings, e-mail messages, and other means, NASB members are kept abreast of current and developing issues and Association activities.
In spite of the Association’s limited staff, members and others are assisted in a timely manner in response to requests for research and/or information on a variety of issues, including governance and legislative topics, publications, meeting arrangements and attendance, and mediation or negotiation.
Accomplishments 2006-2007:
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Implemented quarterly newsletters for school board members and local governance teams, publishing three editions of NASB News Update during this period.
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Provided by-weekly updates in issues of “Legislative Highlights” throughout the 2007 Legislative Session, distributed to school board members and superintendents throughout the State.
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Analyzed and tracked more than 500 legislative proposals over the course of the 120-day 2007 Session and provided periodic bill summary information to school board members and superintendents to ensure that they were fully apprised of legislative proposals.
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Successfully developed a corporate friendship with the NTI Group and secured use of the Connect ED electronic telecommunication service for all school board members and superintendents at an estimated value of more than $15,000 annually at no cost to the Association or school districts.
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Expanded the Association’s corporate sponsorships to $11,750 for the Annual Conference, more than doubling previous contributions from corporate friends, thereby reducing Association out-of-pocket costs for the Conference.
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Represented NASB and local boards at meetings of the State Board of Education and other educational organizations so that the Association continues to be informed about public education issues and to have a voice during the discussions of these groups. Summaries of each meeting are provided.
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Compiled and distributed the NASB Directory in an electronic format for the first time, including photographs and information about Nevada’s school board members, superintendents, and school board secretaries/administrative assistants. Using an electronic format will enable the Association to publish the Directory on an annual basis rather than every other year as has been done in the past.
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Began construction of an effective NASB website to be accessed by school board members and others in the educational community, focusing upon Association issues and expanding the communication and support services for local school boards.
SUMMARY
The benefits of membership in the Nevada Association of School Boards are a direct result of our work to accomplish our mission of improving student achievement through local school board leadership. The Association provides a strong and representative voice on behalf of all local school boards for policies, legislation, and regulation which advance the authority and flexibility of local school boards to improve student achievement. The Association provides an array of high quality training and development opportunities for local school board members to acquire and improve the knowledge, skills, and attributes they need to be more effective leaders in meeting their responsibilities.
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