Advisory Panel to Study Local Board Governance

The State Board of Education is asking Georgia’s business leaders to work with the education community to study effective methods of school board governance.

The State Board unanimously approved a resolution asking the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and AdvancED to put together an advisory panel on the issue of local school board governance. This panel will work with education advocates and support groups to research best practices and policies for school board operations.

“The State Board of Education members thought it was an appropriate time to ask our business partners to work with us on this issue,” said Wanda Barrs, Chair of the State Board. “Businesses understand the clear link between strong boards and success. Many of those same principles can be applied to school board governance.”

The state board is asking for a report within 90 days of when the advisory panel is formed.
State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox praised the state board’s decision to start a conversation about school board governance.

“We want Georgia to be a model state for local school board governance and I’m very pleased that our state’s business leaders have stepped up to the plate to offer their assistance and expertise,” Superintendent Cox said. “Working together we can pull together proven strategies and effective policies from the business and education worlds that will best serve our students, our educators and the community at large.”