Charter Board Members: Free Training in NOLA and Baton Rouge on July 12, 2013

As the charter school movement continues to grow in Louisiana, strong, quality governing boards are at the heart of sustaining these reform efforts. So the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools is hosting two one-day seminars to help charter school boards master the seven pillars of success, announced LAPCS Executive Director Caroline Roemer Shirley.

The events are free. The July 12 event in New Orleans is for current board members or those who need a refresher course. The July 13 Baton Rouge event is designed for the board members of newly authorized charter schools opening for the 2013-2014 school year. Pre-registration is required.
The events are:
 
NEW ORLEANS; Friday, July 12, 8:30 a.m. to Noon, Tulane University Lavin-Bernick Center, Rechler Conference Room. Click here to register!
 
BATON ROUGE: Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Louisiana Resource Center for Educators, 5500 Florida Blvd. Click here to register! 

Ms. Roemer Shirley said the training is needed and important.

“Governance is a form of leadership that requires board members to understand specific requirements and processes unique to exercising group authority over a school. Because a charter school operates under performance contract, charter school board members must excel at these or potentially face the revocation or non-renewal of their charter,” she said.

And since the charter is time-limited, unlike conventional not-for-profit organizations, charter school board members have a narrowly defined window to get governance right.

Dr. Brian Carpenter will lead the training, focusing on subjects such as whom the board exists to represent; the fundamental difference between board governance and management; how to design, implement, and monitor policies; board's fiduciary responsibility; characteristics of failed charter school boards; how to structure a board meeting;  how and when to use committees, and other subjects.

“Participants will really learn and enjoy Dr. Carpenter, who combines humor with straight talk on board performance,” said Ms. Roemer Shirley.
Interested participants should contact Makiyah Moody, Governance Initiatives Director, LAPCS at mmoody@lacharterschools.org or call (504) 274-3649.