VISION STATEMENT

The Nevada Association of School Boards envisions a state where the public schools are widely recognized as the foundation of a free and democratic society, where local citizen governing boards are fully vested with the means to advance the best interests of their students and the public, and where the futures of all children are driven by their aspirations, not bounded by their circumstances.

MISSION STATEMENT

NASB supports success for all students through local school board leadership.

STRATEGIC GOALS AND STRATEGIC PLAN

To achieve this mission, NASB will:

1.  Strengthen the effectiveness of local school board governance.

Recognizing the impact of school boards on student achievement, NASB will provide support, resources, and inspiration to school board members and superintendents to maximize effectiveness in fulfilling their critical leadership functions.

A. Identify annually the challenges facing school boards and superintendents and isolate the top three, prepare a statewide strategy to provide information and training through NASB, using the Conference as a vehicle for helping school boards meet these challenges more effectively.

B. Provide training opportunities for school board members on their responsibilities and duties as public officials.

C. Gather information about whether school board members would be interested in implementing a mentoring system, e.g., more experienced school board members linked with newly elected school board members outside their counties, with the more experienced school board members providing counsel and/or advice as requested about effective governance, student achievement, and establishing stronger, more productive working relationships among board members and superintendents.

2. Provide policy and political leadership on behalf of children and students.

NASB will provide advocacy and policy analysis on educational issues and serve as a unified voice for school board members and the districts they represent.  We will champion public policies that promote success for students. NASB will foster a grassroots advocacy network as a powerful voice to influence public policy and effective relationships with the Nevada Legislature, Constitutional officers, administrative agencies and educational organizations, Congress, and the White House. 

A. Develop an Association legislative platform that strongly supports iNVest and other initiatives to improve public education.

B. Engage with other community organizations in legislative efforts to promote public education, including the State Board of Education, Nevada Department of Education, legislators, the Governor and his/her staff, and business partners.

C. Annually address three significant policy issues to promote student achievement.

3. Support local school board governance through comprehensive support and services.

Through continuing professional development, NASB will provide educational opportunities for school board members and superintendents on critical issues essential to local governance and opportunities to enhance their boardsmanship skills, expand their knowledge, exchange ideas, and discuss important issues. We will continue cooperative programs that will benefit school board members and superintendents and will pursue additional revenue to allow NASB to offer more services to local school boards.

A. Provide training at the NASB Conference about governance models, introducing governance models that are research-based and that have a national track record.

B. Secure adequate funding for NASB through services offered, sponsorships, grants, and others revenue sources.

C. Provide professional development for school board presidents as well as professional growth opportunities to develop leadership on school boards and with the Association.

4. Educate communities about our public schools and school board leadership, developing and implementing communication strategies that increase the public’s understanding about the value of public education and the importance of local school board governance.

NASB will work to educate the public and the media about the role of the board and the fundamental nature of public education in Nevada. We will forge solutions to public education challenges and build support for public education by combating misinformation with factual data.  We will work to provide local governance teams with the tools they need to build community support and engagement.

A. Support facilitator training for the Key Work of School Boards as it applies to community engagement, e.g., how to solicit community perspectives, how to receive criticism from the public, how to promote community awareness, how to share these perspectives with district staff or other school board members, to be included in training for new school board members and school board presidents.

B. Build an effective partnership with PTA and business groups.

C. Release news alerts as necessary as well as on a scheduled basis to emphasize the work of the Association and student achievement.