|
–General Membership
–Activities and Services
–Goals
–Board Standards
–General Membership
–Activities and Services
–Goals
–Board Standards
–General Membership
–Activities and Services
–Goals
–Board Standards
|
The Association of Alaska School Boards is an organization representing school boards in Alaska. Its membership consists of more than 300 individual board members, responsible for students who attend Alaska’s public schools.
Associate members include school superintendents, advisory school boards, the State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education and the Special Education Service Agency.
The mission of the Association of Alaska School Boards is to advocate for children and youth by assisting school boards in providing quality public education, focused on student achievement, through effective local governance.
1. Assist school boards in meeting established board standards for performance and accountability and communicating their efforts and progress to the public and policy makers.
2. Increase the influence school boards have on governmental decisions which have implications for public education.
3. Improve the quality of public school governance through school board member education.
4. Preserve and protect lay control of public education by local boards of education.
5. Promote equal educational opportunity for all public school children.
6. Increase member knowledge of educational issues and their implications.
7. Assume a leadership position in advocating good public education in Alaska.
8. Anticipate and promote legislation for future educational needs.
9. Develop and maintain effective relationships with other groups dealing with educational issues.
10. Promote and facilitate cooperation among local boards of education.
11. Provide technical assistance and information to school districts in a variety of management areas.
The Association is a federation member of the National School Boards Association. Our relationship to NSBA is much the same as the local school boards to our state association. We pay dues along with 49 other states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.
One of the major functions of NSBA is to provide a school board presence in Washington D.C. through lobbyists on staff and through the grassroots Federal Relations Network, made up of school board members from all states. NSBA hosts an Annual Convention and other meetings throughout the year to provide educational opportunities for school board members on national issues and current education trends. NSBA publishes the American School Board Journal, School Board News, and the Executive Educator, as well as a variety of research reports. AASB participates in the governance of NSBA through its membership in the Pacific Region and through representation on the Delegate Assembly, which meets annually to set policy decisions and elect the NSBA Board of Directors.
The Association first formed on November 10, 1954 when four school boards, from Cordova, Nome, Seward and Valdez, gathered in Palmer for the first Annual Conference. Lew Hanks of the Palmer Independent School District was elected as the first AASB President.
AASB joined National School Boards Association in 1957 and appointed Alice Crosby of Juneau as the first NSBA legislative liaison. In 1967 Danny Plotnick of Juneau was appointed as AASB’s first lobbyist during the legislative session.
The State Board of Education was first invited to attend the AASB conferences in 1967. In 1969 membership of the Association was extended to include the advisory school boards for the State-Operated School System and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
AASB’s first paid executive director (then titled Executive Secretary), Dr. C.W. Martin, Associate Professor of Education at the University of Alaska was hired as a temporary part-time employee in 1964. On September 1, 1966, Dr. Don DaFoe, Provost of the Anchorage Regional Center of U of A and former Commissioner of Education, became the first permanent part-time Executive Secretary. He was succeeded in 1969 by Dr. Frank Darnell, head of the Department of Education at the U of A who served until the end of 1971.
Bill Overstreet, Juneau Superintendent, was hired as AASB’s first full time Executive Secretary in 1972 and opened the first office on Franklin St. in Juneau with a part-time secretary as staff. Under his leadership the monthly newsletter, board training and the Legislative Fly-In was established. His successor was Bob Greene, Kodiak Superintendent, who came on board in 1977. During his-tenure the AASB staff grew to four in number and saw the advent of the Leadership Conference, Database Consortium, the formation of the Alaska Schools Insurance Company and the purchase of an office building.
Carl Rose, former school board president from Skagway and past president of AASB, became Executive Director in 1988, and instituted AASB’s first Long Range Plan. Under his direction, current services have been expanded and refined, both the Legislative and Advocacy Networks were formed and the AASB's staff has grown to eleven. Services have been added to include a Lending Library, Policy Development, Labor Relations, and a Legal Assistance Fund.
The Association of Alaska School Boards is a nonprofit organization representing local school boards in Alaska. Its membership consists of more than 330 individual board members, responsible the students who attend Alaska's public schools.
Formed in 1954 by four districts, AASB has expanded over the years to include as members fifty-four school boards in cities, boroughs, and Rural Education Attendance Areas (REAA's), incorporating with nonprofit status in 1972. Today the Association serves as a source of assistance, information, and liaison for school boards and the districts they represent. AASB provides a statewide perspective on issues of educational concern. In a time of decreased funding and increased demand for accountability, even the most informed and conscientious board member needs the services of the Association of Alaska School Boards — services such as:
• Advocacy for School Boards
• State and Federal Representation
• Information through Publications
• Board Development Programs
• School Management Consultation
• School Insurance Program Sponsorship
A 15 member Board of Directors, consisting of 11 directors and four officers governs AASB. The Board, elected by membership at the Annual Conference, represents all regions of the state. The membership, as a whole, passes the resolutions, which establish the positions taken by the Association before the legislature and other agencies throughout the year.
AASB's financial support comes from a combination of member dues, fees for service to individual districts, and grants.
Supporting quality public education, focused on student achievement, through effective local governance
The Association of Alaska School Boards is an organization representing all of the local school boards in Alaska. It's membership consists of more than 330 individual board members, responsible for 100 percent of the students who attend Alaska's public schools.
Formed in 1954 by four districts, AASB has expanded over the years to include as members more than fifty school boards in cities, boroughs, and Rural Education Attendance Areas (REAA's), incorporating with nonprofit status in 1972. Today the Association serves as a source of assistance, information, and liaison for school boards and the districts they represent. AASB provides a statewide perspective on issues of educational concern. In a time of decreased funding and increased demand for accountability, even the most informed and conscientious board member needs the services of the Association of Alaska School Boards – services such as:
• Policy Development
• Board Development
• School Improvement & Community Engagement Services
• Legislative Advocacy
• Superintendent Search
• Information
AASB is governed by a 15 member Board of Directors, consisting of 11 directors and four officers. Representation comes from all regions of the state. The Board is elected by the membership at the Annual Conference. The membership as a whole passes the resolutions which establish the positions taken by the Association before the legislature and other agencies throughout the year.
AASB's financial support comes from a combination of member dues, fees for service to individual districts, and grants.
Adopted July 2003
• BOARD STANDARDS To assist boards in meeting Board Standards and to assist them in communicating those efforts and progess to their communities, including state and national policy makers.
• POLITICAL INFLUENCE To continue AASB’s political influence on the state and national levels by developing proactive positions based on AASB’s resolutions, by representing the diversity of intersts that exist within AASB, and by increasing the involvement of the total membership in the lobby effort.
• BOARD DEVELOPMENT To foster the participation of every board member, whether new or experienced, in AASB sponsored board development activities.
• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT To assist school boards in engaging their local communities in shaping and enriching the education of Alaskas children.
• STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT To promote the role of school boards in ensuring student achievement for all children and youth in public education.
Board policy is an essential governance and management tool to operate your district in a legal, fair, consistent manner that is focused on student achievement. AASB is here to support your policy making, and to help improve it. Consultation, workshops, research, samples, policy reference manual and custom policy development are some aspects of the service.
Boardsmanship Academy – The Academy sessions held in spring and fall provide comprehensive training on the board’s role in School Law, School Finance, Policy Development and Curriculum. Conducted in conjunction with the University of Alaska / Southeast, AASB-sponsored training earns school board members and administrators professional development credits and public recognition.
Annual Conference – Held each November, this is the largest gathering of school board members in the state. Conference programs feature renowned speakers, education clinics, and a resolution session that gives the association its direction. Packed with critical information and hands-on training.
Winter Academy – Held in December of each year, these workshops provide information about negotiations, budget and finance, and employee relations.
Leadership Conference – Designed to enhance the skills of present and future board presidents and officers, this top quality program is an opportunity for you to hone communication skills and become a more effective and productive leader.
School Board Self Assessment – AASB’s self-assessment is based on Board Standards and performance indicators that have been developed by a broad cross section of Alaskans. AASB staff, during a customized workshop, can facilitate the assessment and help a board develop their own plan for improvement.
Customized Workshops – AASB provides in-district workshops upon request and can tailor the workshop to meet the needs of your board. Suggested workshop topics include: Teamwork, Board/Superintendent Relations, School Board Self-Assessment, and Goal Setting.
Quality Schools/Quality Students Service (QS2) – The QS2 Service is AASB’s response to the need for comprehensive school improvement in Alaska. Focused on high achievement for all students, QS2 begins with the development of a strategic plan with AASB staff assisting districts in identifying needs and coordinating the implementation of action plans in four areas: Leadership, Programs and Staff, Community and Parent Engagement, and Resources.
Strategic Planning –With community and staff involvement AASB facilitators help school districts develop a strategic plan that will serve as a roadmap to accomplishing strategies and contribute to achieving objectives geared toward enhancing student achievement.
Alaska ICE –The Alaska Initiative for Community Engagement is known for inspiring and experiential learning workshops, presentations and dialogues that introduce the Asset Building framework within a community engagement context. Training is geared toward educators, administrators, parents, school boards, and students. Community presentations help all citizens better understand their role in providing students with the tools they need to succeed in school and in life. Asset Building materials are available through the AASB website.
As a school board member, understanding Alaska’s legislative process is key to creating a better education system for our kids. AASB encourages school board members to be instrumental in the legislative process through these important services:
AASB’s Legislative Network helps your school board be prepared to lobby. Network members promote effective pro-education legislation. Each year every Network member receives the Legislative Handbook on the basics of lobbying.
Legislative Fly-In – Two grassroots lobbying efforts are held in Juneau each year. These prepare board members with the basics of the legislative process, help to develop lobbying skills, and provide an opportunity to discuss the issues from a local perspective and advance a statewide vision on key education issues.
Federal Relations Network – AASB is your link to the National School Boards Association’s Federal Relations Network, the national equivalent of our state lobby effort. This is your opportunity to affect legislation at the national level.
AASB offers a full slate of services to assist school boards in selecting a superintendent. The search service can help you: develop an action plan, identify selection criteria, develop the recruitment process, evaluate applications, assist in initial screening, conduct reference checks, identify interview strategies, respond to the media, and coordinate community and staff involvement.
Research – As an AASB member, you have access to AASB’s extensive collection of materials assembled on school issues. AASB’s research saves you valuable time. Our Quick Survey service is a fast and accurate way to learn what other districts are doing. In addition, AASB researches and distributes Critical Issues papers to all members on topics of special importance.
AASB Online – Each week members receive the E-News, an email containing a summary of state, national and local news impacting Alaska’s schools. Members are kept abreast of developing state and national legislation throughout the session by means of the weekly Legislative Bulletin. AASB’s website (www.aasb.org) is the fastest way to get information from the Association. It also has links to a variety of professional and news organizations as well as education statutes and regulations.
Commentary – AASB’s widely-read monthly newsletter provides inside information about what’s happening in education across the state and the nation. Stay current on a host of important concerns that impact decision making at your local level.
Annual Survey of Employee Salaries & Benefits – Published in three separate reports, the survey contains detailed comparative information on salaries and benefits for teachers, administrators and classified employees.
AASB’s Board of Directors have adopted Board Standards as a model for what school boards should be committed to and held accountable for.
AASB staff can assist boards in reviewing their work against the standards framework, adopting standards for their own use, measuring their performance based on the standards, and developing a community based evaluation using the standards framework of Vision, Structure, Accountability, Advocacy and Conduct and Ethics.
Board Standards: A Framework for Alaska School Boards
Vision: The board creates a shared vision to enhance student achievement.
Structure: The board provides a structure that supports the vision.
Accountability: The board measures district performance toward accomplishing the vision and reports the results to the public.
Advocacy: The board champions the vision.
Conduct-Ethics: The board conducts its business of the district in a fair, respectful and responsible manner.
Dues provide the base of support for our mission of assisting school boards in providing a quality education for the children of Alaska.
A fee is charged for more time-consuming, district- specific projects which require an AASB staff member making visits to a district. Such services include customized board in-service, custom policy development, superintendent searches, and strategic planning.
Fees for such services are set on an annual basis and include charges for professional services and travel expenses.
The Association of Alaska School Boards is as near as your telephone.
Call (907) 586-1083 or email us at aasb@aasb.org for more information about the services listed in this brochure.
|
