BOARD-MANAGEMENT LINKAGE

Part 1.0 Governing Board

Section 1.3 Governance Policies

Paragraph 1.3.3 Board-Management Linkage

Policy Statement:

Board-Management Linkage

BML 1. Global Board-Management Linkage Policy

BML 2A. Unity of Control

BML 2B. Accountability of the School Director

BML 2C. Delegation to the School Director

BML 2D. Monitoring School Director Performance

Board-Management Linkage Policies

BML#1: The board's sole official connection to the operational organization, its achievements, and conduct will be through the School Director.

Adopted: 10/18/07

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#2A: Unity of Control

Only officially passed motions of the board are binding on the School Director.

Adopted: 03/27/08

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#3A: Accordingly

Decisions or instructions of individual board members are not binding on the School Director except in rare instances when the board has specifically authorized such exercise of authority.
In the case of board members or committees requesting information or assistance without board authorization, the School Director can refuse such requests that require, in the School Director's opinion, a material amount of staff time or funds, or are disruptive.

Adopted: 2/25/10

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#2B: Accountability of the School Director

The School Director is the board's only link to operational achievement and conduct, so that all authority and accountability of staff, as far as the board is concerned, is considered the authority and accountability of the School Director.

Adopted: 03/27/08

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#3B: Accordingly

The board will never give instructions to persons who report directly or indirectly to the School Director.
The board will refrain from evaluating, either formally or informally, any staff other than the School Director.
The board will view School Director performance as identical to organizational performance so that organizational accomplishment of board-stated Ends and avoidance of board-proscribed means will be viewed as successful School Director performance.

Adopted: 2/25/10

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#2C: Delegation to the School Director

The board will instruct the School Director through written policies that prescribe the organizational Ends to be achieved, and proscribe organizational situations and actions to be avoided, allowing the School Director to use any reasonable interpretation of these policies.

Adopted: 03/27/08

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#3C: Accordingly

1. The Board will develop policies instructing the School Director to achieve defined end results for identified students, or subgroups of students, with a designated priority of time and resources. These policies will be developed systematically from the broadest, most general level to more defined levels, and will be called Ends policies.

2. The Board will develop policies which limit the latitude the School Director may exercise in choosing the organizational means to achieve the Ends. These policies will be developed systematically from the broadest, most general level to more defined levels, and they will be called Executive Limitation policies.

3. As long as the School Director uses any reasonable interpretation of the board's Ends and Executive Limitations policies, the School Director is authorized to establish all further policies, make all decision, take all actions, establish all practices, and pursue all activities. But the Board will make the final determination of whether the School Director is in compliance with Board policies.

4. The board may change its Ends and Executive Limitations policies, thereby shifting the boundary between board and School Board domains. By doing so, the board changes the latitude of choice given to the School Director. But as long as any particular delegation is in place, the board will respect and support the School Director's choices.

Adopted: 2/25/10

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#2D: Monitoring School Director Performance

Systematic and rigorous monitoring of the School Director job performance will be solely against the only expected School Director job outputs: organizational accomplishment of board policies on Ends and organizational operation within the boundaries established in board policies on Executive Limitations.

Adopted: 03/27/08

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#3D: Accordingly:

1. Monitoring determines the degree to which Board policies are being met. Information not formally presented as monitoring data and that does not contribute directly to this purpose is not considered monitoring data.

2. The Board will acquire monitoring data on policies by one or more of three methods:

by internal report, in which the School Director discloses information and certifies compliance to the board;
by external report, in which an external, disinterested third party selected by the Board assesses compliance with board policies; and/or
by direct board inspection, in which a designated member or members of the board assess compliance with the appropriate policy criteria.

3. In every case, the standard for compliance of Executive Limitations policies shall be any reasonable interpretation by the School Director. The standard for compliance of the Ends policies shall be whether reasonable progress is being made toward achieving the Board's prescribed Ends. The Board will make the final determination as to whether School Director's interpretation is reasonable and whether reasonable progress is being made.

4. All policies that instruct the School Director will be monitored at a frequency and by a method chosen by the board. The Board may monitor any policy at any time by any method, but will ordinarily depend on a routine schedule.

Policy	Method(s)	Frequency	Month
Global Ends	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
E 2A. Student Achievement Character Academic Social Skills Critically Minded Community Service	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
E 2B. Premier Charter School Model	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
E 2C. Valuable Resource to other schools and education community	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
EL 1. Global Executive Limitation	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
EL 2A, 3A. Treatment of Consumers	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
EL 2B, 3B. Treatment of Staff	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
EL 2C, 3C. Financial Planning and Budgeting	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
EL 2D, 3D. Financial Conditions and Activities	External Audit	Annually	by Dec 31st
EL 2E. Emergency School Director Succession	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
EL 2F, 3F. Asset Protection	External Audit	Annually	by Dec 31st
EL 2G, 3G. Compensation and Benefits	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
EL 2H, 3H. Communication and Support to the Board	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st
EL 2I, 3I. Ends Focus of Grants or Contracts	Internal Report	Annually	by July 31st

5. In conjunction with monitoring the School Director's job performance, the Board will conduct an annual formal summative evaluation of the School Director. The evaluation will be based upon data collected during the year from the monitoring of Board policies on Ends and Executive Limitations. A written evaluation document will be prepared by the Board. The School Director and the Board will review the document in executive session.

The document will consist of:

A summary of the data derived during the year from monitoring the Board's policies on Ends and Executive Limitations;
Conclusions relative to whether each End has been achieved or whether reasonable progress has been made toward its achievement; and when necessary, an improvement plan addressing any insufficient progress toward meeting the goals;
Conclusions relative to whether the School Director has reasonably interpreted and operated properly within the boundaries established by the board policies; and when necessary, an improvement plan addressing any deficiencies in operation within the boundaries of the Board policies;
A summary of the School Director's strengths and weaknesses relative to achievement of the Ends policies and operation within the boundaries established in the Executive Limitation policies. Nothing in this policy is intended to imply the establishment of any personal rights not explicitly established by statute, contract, or Board policy. All employment decisions related to the School Director, including contract agreements, remain the sole discretion of the Board.

Adopted: 8/26/10

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#2E Board/School Director Covenants

In order to build and maintain productive and effective relationships between the Board and the School Director, both the Board and the School Director will maintain a system of communication and interaction that builds upon mutual respect and trust.

Adopted: 8/26/10

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_

BML#3E: Accordingly, the Board and the School Director will

1. Exercise honesty in all written and interpersonal interaction, avoiding misleading information.

2. Demonstrate respect for the opinions and comments of each other.

3. Focus on issues rather than on personalities.

4. Maintain focus on common goals.

5. Communicate with each other in a timely manner to avoid surprises.

6. Criticize privately, praise publicly.

7. Maintain appropriate confidentiality.

8. Openly share personal concerns, information, knowledge, and agendas.

9. Make every reasonable effort to protect the integrity and promote the positive image of the school(s) and each other.

10. Respond in a timely manner to requests and inquiries from each other.

Adopted: 8/26/10

Monitoring method: Self-Monitoring see GP#3A-4

Monitoring frequency: Annually in (insert month)_