New Officers Take the Helm of MASB Board of Directors

Paula Saari, Marquette-Alger RESA, is the President of the MASB Board of Directors for 2008-09. MASB welcomes Paula to her role, and thanks Michael Rochholz, Schoolcraft Community Schools, for his leadership over the past year. Click on the link above for a complete list of the 2008-09 Board of Directors.

Register Now for MASB's Annual Fall Conference

Registration for MASB's premier leadership event of the year, the Annual Fall Conference, is now available. Click on the link above to reserve your place at this important leadership event.

Proposals Sought for 2008 Annual Conference

MASB is calling for proposals from school districts, school board members and other organizations for high-quality, 60-75 minute breakout sessions that focus on topics of critical interest to school board members. Click on the link above to complete the online proposal.

Kathy Hayes Named Interim Executive Director

Justin King has left his post as executive director of MASB. Kathy Hayes, director of leadership services, has been named interim executive director. A search committee has been formed to begin the process of hiring a new executive (see Headlines, June 16). MASB will keep you informed throughout the executive search process. Click on the link above to read more about King's accomplishments.

MASB Introduces New Survey Service

MASB is excited to announce a new service to meet your survey needs. Surveys are an effective, efficient way to gauge community perceptions and provide data on which to base your decisions. Our survey service saves you time and money by allowing MASB's knowledgeable staff to create research-based, customized survey questions; disseminate the survey; analyze results; and provide recommendations. It's also an effective way to conduct anonymous, confidential surveys from a trusted outside source, which helps increase the credibility of your survey.

New! A School Board Member's Resource Guide: First Year Orientation

MASB is excited to introduce a new resource for board members. MASB has developed this guide to help prepare new board members for the complex task of serving on a board of education, and to serve as a refresher for veteran board members. The guide holds a wealth of information to guide new board members including information on the legal authority of school boards, roles and responsibilities of the board of education, the board-superintendent team, attributes of a successful school board member and much, much more. Click on the link above to download your free copy.

Members Assisting Peers Available to Facilitate Orientation Sessions

MASB's mentors, the Members Assisting Peers, are trained, prepared and available to facilitate a new board member orientation in your local district or through your ISD. To schedule an orientation session, contact Olga Holden, 517.327.5906, oholden@masb.org. To learn about the mentors, click on the link above.

Now Accepting Nominations for MASB Board of Directors

Note: Previous materials indicated a seat in Group V up for election, the seat is actually open in Region 5. There is no seat available in Group V. This year, seven seats on the MASB Board of Directors are up for election. Nominations must be forwarded to the MASB Executive Director by Wednesday, July 9. If your board wishes to nominate a member, please be certain that the person agrees to be a candidate and is certified by MASB. Click on the link above for nomination materials.

New! MASB's Product of the Month: Data2Results

Data2Results provides a streamlined, data-driven planning/goal-setting process for school districts. This process first utilizes data to assess the effectiveness of the school system when compared to similar school districts. This information-combined with the board of education's vision for the district-provides a solid foundation for the establishment of priority goals for a school district. MASB can customize the service to meet your needs, from basic goal setting to more comprehensive data-based strategic planning. Click on the link above to learn more.

Trained Board Members Save Money

MASB is happy to introduce a new video to help communicate the importance of school board member training. Click on the link above to watch the video and learn what the public really thinks about board member training.

What Do I Get From MASB?

The benefits of membership with MASB are many. Your membership with MASB gives you a leadership advantage by offering you the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge you need to be an effective decision maker for your district. For more on what membership with MASB means, click on the link above.

The Bargaining Toolkit for School Districts

Click on the link above to download a free resource manual for school districts. The toolkit will help you improve negotiations in your district.

Building Blocks of High Performing Schools

For New Board Members

VIP Membership Information