As we step into the new school year, there’s an unmistakable buzz of excitement in the air. The kids are back in their classrooms and teachers are back to inspiring young minds. As a school board, you’re in the beginning stages of your fiscal year—a perfect time to pause and ask, “Are we keeping our focus where it belongs? Are we doing all we can to help kids reach their full potential?”

With so much to juggle, it’s easy for meetings to get bogged down by details like bus schedules, food service or building maintenance. These things are important, but how much time are you actually spending on student needs and the programs that help them thrive?

As a board member, your job is to keep the main thing—the main thing. And for every school board, the main thing is always student success. Whether you’re talking about budgets, facilities or operations, those conversations should always circle back to their impact on students.

Is Your Strategic Plan Driving Your Work?

If your board has a strategic plan in place, it should be guiding every decision you make. An effective strategic plan isn't just a document that lives on a shelf; it’s a roadmap for student success. However, all too often, strategic plans can slip into “cruise control.” As the months go by, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, focusing instead on the day-to-day operations. My advice? Don’t let that happen.

Keep your foot on the pedal. Think of your plan as the engine driving your work at the board table. The key to staying on course is intentionality. Be purposeful with the limited time you have during your monthly meetings. Take time to reflect and ask critical questions:

• What’s working?
• What challenges are we running into?
• How can we tackle those challenges head-on?

These questions can help your board remain focused on what truly matters—ensuring that every student in your district has the opportunity to succeed.

Accountability Doesn’t Happen by Chance

Accountability is another cornerstone of effective governance. It doesn’t just happen by accident. It requires intentionality and regular check-ins. Your board has the power to keep things on track by discussing progress at every meeting. Don’t just assume the plan is being followed—make sure you’re actively reviewing it, celebrating the wins and addressing any bumps in the road.

Bring Your Community Along

It’s also important to remember that your work at the board table shouldn’t remain within those four walls. Bring your community along on the journey. Share with parents, teachers and local stakeholders the progress you’re making and the challenges you’re addressing. After all, parent engagement has been proven to significantly boost student outcomes.

I encourage you to check out our recent Board Study Guide: Parents are Partners. This guide offers practical tips on how to involve parents more actively in their child’s learning. When parents feel like true partners in their child’s education, it strengthens the entire system and increases the likelihood of student success.

As the year gets underway, try not to let the little things distract you from what really matters. Take the time to reflect on your strategic goals and keep the focus on student success. Your role as a board is to provide direction and oversight, and that responsibility should always keep the well-being of students at its core.

Together we can work to keep the main thing, the main thing!