Q: For whom is the Certified Board Distinction designed?
A: This Distinction is bestowed upon a school board through the efforts of individual board members who have earned the distinction of Certified Board Member.
Q: Is the Certified Board Distinction a mandatory designation for school boards?
A: NO! All board development programs and distinctions under the direction of the Florida School Boards Association are voluntary.
Q: What is the purpose of the Certified Board Distinction?
A: This Distinction was established to acknowledge a school board that has actively pursued a formalized training program for developing a high level of boardsmanship skills and knowledge in 12 curricular areas.
Q: How many school boards have earned the Certified Board Distinction?
A: Twenty (20) school boards have been recognized as a Certified Board. The Certified Board Distinction was initially awarded in June 1994.
Q: What "group" training is required of a school board to be recognized as a Certified Board?
A: None! This distinction does not require the school board to collectively engage in training activities or to complete a prescribed curricular component. The Certified Board Distinction recognizes the school board for successful individual participation in the Certified Board Member Program.
Q: How is a Certified Board honored?
A: A school board receives a plaque when the eligibility criterion is satisfied. Only the names of those school board members who have actually earned and maintained the distinction of Certified Board Member are inscribed on the plaque.
Q: When is a school board awarded the Certified Board plaque?
A: The school board is recognized and the plaque is presented at the FSBA Annual Spring Conference in June and the FSBA Annual Joint Conference in November/December.
Q: What occurs if a school board has been designated as a Certified Board and another member completes the Certified Board Member Program?
A: A new plaque is issued to the school board to include the names of all members who have earned the Certified Board Member Distinction and have met the annual CBM renewal requirements. The new plaque will be presented to the school board at the FSBA Annual Spring Conference in June or the FSBA Annual Joint Conference in November/December.
Q: How long is a school board distinguished as a Certified Board?
A: The Distinction of Certified Board remains in effect as long as a majority of the members have earned the Certified Board Member Distinction.
Q: Does the FSBA Office notify the community when a school board has earned the Certified Board Distinction?
A: YES! Press releases are provided to daily and weekly newspapers that are in circulation within the community. Board members are notified in advance about the press releases.
Q: How does a school board know if it qualifies as a Certified Board?
A: The FSBA Office notifies all members of the school board when the eligibility criterion for the Certified Board Distinction is satisfied.
Q: Does a school board need to apply for the Certified Board Distinction?
A: NO! The FSBA Office maintains records of participants in the Certified Board Member Program and determines when a school board qualifies as a Certified Board.
Q: What is the deadline for a school board to requalify for the Certified Board Distinction when a majority of the members no longer hold the Certified Board Member Distinction?
A: There is no time requirement associated with requalification.
Please direct your inquiries about the Certified Board Distinction or Certified Board Member Program to:
Andrea Messina
Director of Board Development
Florida School Boards Association
203 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Telephone: 850/414-2578
Suncom Phone: 994-2578
FAX: 850/414-2585
E-mail: messina@fsba.org