Micromanagement is Not the Answer
Part 2 of 17
Unfortunately, local school boards spend the bulk of their time on budgetary issues and resolving complaints, leaving little time for oversight of instruction or even reviewing data about school performance. They often pay too much attention to particular causes, programs, and teacher factions. These actions of a poor governing board reflect a micromanagement of the system where little talk of professional growth and strategic planning to impact student achievement is mentioned. To effectively engage in strategic planning to impact student achievement, the school board must rely on its leaders (the administration) to make informed decisions and recommendations for continued growth. Little can be done where school board members spend more time as another level of administration (micromanagers). The development of a shared vision, effective decision making, and positive community connections is an ongoing process that is necessary for schools today. Therefore, school board leadership is about creating positive relationships and implementing ideas that work, and the above can not possibly be done where the relationship between the school board and the administration is in turmoil. Service should not be about dealing with routine administrative tasks that need to be trusted to the staff of the school district.
