When we talk about school boards making a real impact, one of the biggest factors is ensuring board policies and accountability systems truly align with the district’s vision and values. It’s easy to get caught up in daily demands—bus routes, staffing issues and maintenance concerns—that feel urgent but can overshadow the bigger picture. The focus should always be on student success. 

The key is to be intentional with your time. Board meeting agendas are often packed, but it’s important to prioritize discussions that drive the district’s goals forward. Too often, there is little time left for evaluating progress, addressing challenges or ensuring students have what they need to thrive. While operational matters are important, they shouldn’t come at the expense of the district’s overarching goals. 

The challenge often lies in ensuring that every discussion, decision and policy aligns with the district’s vision. It’s not enough to agree on the big picture; you must consistently revisit your district’s vision to ensure the systems in place continue to support your goals.  

Think this process like baking a chocolate cake. The cake represents your strategic plan—your shared vision and values. To bake it, you need the right ingredients and a solid recipe. The ingredients are things like student programs, curricular options, instructional time and professional learning opportunities for staff. The recipe is how you combine and balance those elements to drive success and achieve the ideal outcomes you’ve envisioned. 

One practical way to keep the strategic plan front and center is to rework meeting agendas. Dedicate time in each meeting to a specific focus area or pillar of the plan. For example, this month’s discussion might center on literacy programs, next month on student well-being, and the following month on graduation rates. By cycling through focus areas over the year, boards can ensure meaningful conversations about each priority while staying aligned with the plan. 

During these discussions, ask essential questions: What’s working? What’s not? What adjustments are needed to stay on track? The goal is to make regular check-ins part of the board’s routine. 

It’s also important to remember that policies aren’t just the rules written in the handbook. A policy is any official decision a school board makes, from adopting a specific technology platform to approving the school calendar. Every decision should reflect the district’s goals and values and it’s important to think of any secondary impact that it might have on your students. For instance, many districts are considering a four-day school week as a cost-saving measure or a way to improve staff recruitment. But if a district’s vision emphasizes student achievement, it’s worth asking if longer breaks between instructional time aligns with that priority. 

Ultimately, it comes down to keeping student success at the center of every decision. Boards that consistently carve out time to review their strategic goals, reflect on progress and make necessary adjustments create the conditions for meaningful change.  

By staying intentional—like a baker following a recipe—you’ll ensure that every ingredient contributes to the final result. The real magic happens when all the ingredients work together seamlessly. The chocolate cake, or in this case, your strategic plan, becomes more than just a goal; it’s a tangible representation of the shared values and vision that guide your district forward.