The Master Board Program is a formalized training curriculum which is designed for a school district's leadership team (i.e., the school board and superintendent). The Program features an interactive approach to strengthen the leadership team's ability to work effectively, efficiently, and collectively as a governance group while maintaining a focus on student learning and factors contributing to it's success. Opportunities are provided for the team to discuss and improve or enhance those important interpersonal issues which are essential to team functioning.
This leadership curriculum is designed to offer meaningful learning sessions which concentrate on the four pillars forming the foundation of an educational governance team. These pillars are: 1) creating a VISION; 2) developing a STRUCTURE; 3) establishing an ACCOUNTABILITY system; and, 4) engaging in ADVOCACY. Some of the skills, knowledge, processes, and concepts that are addressed in the leadership curriculum include:
| °Consensus Building | °Establishing Trust | °Conflict Resolution |
| °Communication | °Leadership Styles | °Personal Styles |
| °Team Development | °Meaningful Change | °Core Beliefs |
| °Ethical Management | °Strategic Planning | °Problem Solving |
| °Listening | °Productive Meetings | °Team Building |
| °Systems Thinking | °Board Self-Evaluation | °District Culture |
Participation in the Master Board Program is available every two (2) years for school districts. Subsequent to school board elections in November of even-numbered years, the FSBA Office generates a letter of invitation to each school district's leadership team with instructions and requirements for becoming a Program participant. The leadership team must formalize Program participation by signing "a letter of intent to participate." The Program begins in March of odd-numbered years. The 4-Step Program requires 22-hours of training. Step 1 is enrollment in a 10-hour Master Board Forum with a predetermined curriculum. Forums are offered at time-certain dates at various locations. The leadership team selects the preferred Forum date when the letter of intent to participate is submitted. Steps 2, 3, and 4 are onsite workshops, each 4 hours in length, in topics chosen by the leadership team. The Master Board Program requires 12 months to complete.
Customized four-hour training modules have been developed for the Program which may be selected for the elective curricular component(s). The modules include:
| °Effective Problem Solving | |
| °Creating Meaningful Change | |
| °Conducting Effective Board Meetings | |
| °The Key Works of School Boards | |
| °Essentials of Leadership | |
| °Power Through Policy | |
| °Strategic Planning | |
| °Core Beliefs | |
| °Keeping the Vision Alive | |
| °Creating a Vision for Your District | |
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°Strategic Communication |
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| °The Tipping Point | |
| °The Challenges of Leadership | |
| °Aligning the School District to Improve Student Achievement | |
| °Meeting the Challenge of Educational Change | |
| °The Performance Evaluation of Appointed Superintendents | |
| °The Roles and Responsibilities of the Board and Superintendent | |
| °Surviving and Thriving in a Learning Organization | |
The cost of participating in the Master Board Program is $3,000.00. A check or a purchase order in the amount of $3,000.00 must accompany the leadership team's "letter of intent to participate." The leadership team is also responsible for paying its travel, hotel, and meal expenses associated with the Master Board Forum. The cost of the program covers expenses for training materials, consultants, hotel meeting rooms and audio-visual equipment.
Board Development Program | Technical Assistance | Facilitation Activities