april 2011: who makes the best board member for an independent school

8/7/2019 April 2011: Who makes the Best Board Member for an Independent School

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The job of a Board Member (“member”) of an independent school is an important one. A member is

responsible for providing duciary oversight and ensuring the school’s resources are being usedappropriately and eecvely, acng as a steward towards the school’s long-term success and

viability, and most importantly, the fulllment of its mission.

So, what types of traits should Board of Directors look for when looking for prospecve members for

an independent school? Per the Ninth Edion of the Naonal Associaon of Independent Schools

(“NAIS”) Trustee Handbook (A Guide to Eecve Governance for Independent School Boards),

members should encompass the following characteriscs:

• Commitment to the school’s mission

• Knowledge of the school – its programs, problems and leadership needs

• Knowledge of what constutes good governance• Visible, personal support of the school’s fund development acvies

• Independence from Board and school facons

• Willingness and ability to evaluate sing trustees and potenal Board Members fairly and can-

didly

• Willingness to make contact with and interview and recruit new members

A commitment to leadership is also important. And as with any leadership posion, members should

also respect and be respected by other members, school ocials, faculty and parents. Selecng

WHO MAKES THE BEST BOARD MEMBER

FOR AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL?

Jason Leo, CPA - Manager, Assurance & Advisory

APRIL 2011



members that have the above traits will help garner respect, and allow the Board to funcon in their

elected capacity.

When selecng new addions to the Board, members will oen select from those like them and also

look for them to have or have had a vested interest in the school. Per the NAIS Trustee Handbook,new members are oenmes selected from the following pool of constuencies:

• Alumni

• Faculty

• Funders

• Friends

• Past parents and grandparents

Alumni - Alumni of a school tend to exhibit enthusiasm and a sense of gratude for what the school

has provided to them. They are also the embodiment of the school’s mission. However, alumni

somemes dwell on the past, to a me when they were students, overlook the present, and lack a

vision towards the future.

Faculty – A small number of schools look towards their faculty for Board membership, as they

typically care deeply about the school’s mission, are commied and have extensive knowledge of

educaon and the school’s students. However, having faculty also serve on the Board is problemac

as conict of interest issues may arise from the faculty eecvely governing themselves.

Funders (i.e. representaves of private and corporate foundaons) – Although it is in all schools

interests to elect members who will contribute funds, it is not a recommended pracce to elect

representaves from private or corporate foundaons that may provide funds to the school, for thepotenal conict of interest issues that may arise.

Friends (i.e. Heads or Board members of other unaliated schools) – Friends typically bring a wealth of

experience from their work at other independent schools and can share a fresh new view of the way

things are done. It is recommended that members from this constuency be selected from

unaliated schools, so as not to pose a conict of interest.

Past Parents and Grandparents – Past parents and grandparents are typically commied,

knowledgeable about the school’s mission, may have the means to contribute large sums to the

school and are removed from the current issues facing the school.

Therefore, who makes the best Board Member for an independent school? Based on the range of constuencies available, past parents or grandparents of schools may represent the best Board

Member for an independent school. Past parents are typically commied to the school, because of

the posive experiences they’ve shared with their children. And, because of their knowledge of the

school and its mission, past parents are typically respected. Parents of former students are also

distant from the immediacy of the current issues facing the school and its current students, and so



Stephen P. Carter - Silicon Valley

[email protected]

Lewis Sharpstone - Los Angeles

[email protected]

Je Holt - Los Angeles

[email protected]

Rob Schlener - Orange County

[email protected]

they would not just be focused on the present. Past parents have had a chance to reect on their

own past experiences and can focus objecvely on what areas the school needs to improve on to

stay viable, fulll its mission and build towards the future.

If you are looking for new Board members for an independent school, have any quesons or would

like more informaon on the above arcle, please contact Lewis Sharpstone, Partner or Je Holt,

Partner at the contact informaon below.

april 2011: who makes the best board member for an independent school

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