A school board according to Encarta World English Dictionary (North American Edition) is a local body overseeing schools: in the U.S , a group of people elected or appointed in each county or local school system to make decisions about education in public schools.
Quite a mouthful but there's more. In order to examine the role of the school board with technology support, I'd first like to examine the roles and responsibility of the school board.
Roles and Responsibilities
Local school boards function as legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial agencies. They must develop, implement, and assess policy; institute sound employee relations; conduct open meetings; recognize and conform to the legal mandates imposed by state and federal laws; and govern within the limits of a delegation of state authority. Additionally, the board has an obligation to assess its successes and failures; inform the public of all deliberations and decisions; promote accountability; avoid abuse of power; enhance public understanding of its mission; conform to standards of ethical behavior; provide a framework for setting goals; and develop strategic plans for the accomplishment of those goals.
Finally, school boards provide leadership for the local school system, adopting a unifying vision and mission, soliciting and balancing the participation and input of members of the community, and advocating on behalf of the educational needs of children at the local, state, and national levels.
Educating the School Board about Internet in Schools
Although a school board consists of persons with varying educational backgrounds, I believe it is vitally important that school boards be introduced to, and be made aware of the technology programs and tools being used in schools. Just recently a team of Elementary teachers in my county were charged with making a Technology Presentation to the school board. This was designed to serve two purposes - to exhibit the web tools and sites being used in the advancement of the children's education and to give the new incoming board an idea of just how important technology is to the schools in the district.
To say it served its purpose would be an understatement. The Board Members were quite impressed with the high level of technology that was being used in the schools and I was quite pleased to see two of our Web 2.0 tutorial tools - Slideshare and Photo Story - being used. I do believe that this presentation had a positive effect on the board. There were persons on the board who did not think students should be as exposed to technology in the classroom as they were, and it served to stop these negative thoughts right in their tracks. Embedded in the presentation were students' artifacts showing the practical use of the web in class to enhance learning. Suffice it to say ,that this inclusion stopped the naysayers right in their tracks.
Board's Role in Technology Planning
There is now a new board in place - they were inaugurated last evening - and I do believe the approach to technology in schools will be very different. There should be a concerted effort on the part of the board to make sure that more Web 2.0 tools are integrated in the classrooms geared at enhancing learning. I was privileged to have a conversation with one member who has a 'powerful voice' on the board and he is determined to bring back to the High and Middle schools a lap-top program where every child has a lap-top for classes. Some schools are so privileged but there are still a few who are not as fortunate. He stated that the presentation gave him a renewed focus to seek as much funding as possible to assist in this venture.
There are school boards who believe, as I do, that technology should play a vital role in meeting the needs of the wide range of abilities, disabilities, cultural backgrounds and ethnic populations present in school districts.
School Boards should ensure that technology is appropriately and equitably integrated into instruction and management and used by all students and staff as an integral part of school improvement and student success. If the board has the best interest of the schools in mind; they should focus on students performance and achievement, increasing staff productivity and also ensuring the efficient day-to-day operations of the school system.
Great points!
ReplyDeleteYou have a new school board so let's hope that they will strive to integrate technology as an integral part of the new school policies that they will implement. I can see that you would love that girl! :-)
That is a good way to let the school board how well teachers are using the web and the impact that it makes to the teaching-learning process, I will steal that idea and share it with my principals to see if we can do the same in my district so they can be more open and allow the teachers to use it well.
ReplyDeleteI wish my board of education was presented a show like that! The leaders in my county are from a very rural area and I wonder if they appreciate technology as it should be. I only know that little emphasis is done on technology implementation in the local level. My pricipal though has aqcuired a new interactive program on line where students can learn better, however due to the capacity of our network the program is having major operational issues.
ReplyDelete"If the board has the best interest of the schools in mind; they should focus on students performance and achievement, increasing staff productivity and also ensuring the efficient day-to-day operations of the school system."
ReplyDeleteI could not have said it any better myself.
I think that the opportunity you had to speak with that new board member and I am sure that you provided him with vital information to the improtance of technology in the schools.
I do hope that this new school board sees, understands and incorporates technology into all schools so that the all global societies represented in schools will benefit.
Wonderful post!
Excellent post, my friend. I too applaud your conversation with your board member...and your school's. These types of presentations with student artifacts are, as you note, the best way to position technology for the right reasons in schools.
ReplyDeleteGreat Job !!
ReplyDeleteGood use of the artifacts to support, we need to this more. Sometimes board makes decision because they are ignorant of the benefits. Prove your point, there will be a second opinion.
School boards do play a vital role in the decisions of the schools, therefore I do agree 100% that they must be involve and be on top of things so that they can make good decisions that will benefit the school thus leading to the students progress.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you that the use of the laptops are very beneficial to the students and it makes the students want to learn and the teacher's job is much easier. Great post
You always blow my mind every time I read your blogs. You are such a very deep individual. A true visionary leader indeed. I hope this new school board has great plans for technology so that all schools in the county will move forward in this 21st century. Great Blog!!!
ReplyDeleteI do agree!
ReplyDeleteEducate board members in the field of technology before they create a tech plan to be implemented at schools. This is the real collaboration we are longing to have. They will be flabbergasted when they see our kids maneuvering computers, networks and computer programs in a few seconds.