Summer Listening for Boards and School Business Leaders

In the dog days of summer, you may be settling into your school’s annual audit, managing facilities projects and improvements, working around a busy summer camp schedule or already looking ahead to the next school year.

The NBOA staff, who work fully remotely, recently got together in person for mid-summer meetings on a number of topics, including possible initiatives for the year ahead (pending board approval, of course!), AI, delivering exemplary member service and hot topics at boarding schools. On one of our three days of presentations and generative discussion, we were hosted by Ed Griffin, NBOA Board Member and CFO at St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, whose campus took our breath away and offered hospitality second to none. We heard from Griffin, Head of School Michael Wirtz and other St. George’s staff, as well as Susan Baldridge, president of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). Thanks to the generosity and insights of these New England members, all of us on NBOA staff left Providence feeling energized and razor focused on the fiscal year ahead.

Also in July, every other year, NBOA Board chairs change hands. This July 1 saw the passing of the torch from Duncan Booth, COO at The St. Paul’s Schools in Baltimore County, to Beth Pollard, CFO at The Ensworth School in Nashville. While I have the privilege of working closely with NBOA Board chairs throughout the year, I wanted to give our members and the independent school community additional insight into the dedicated leadership of the NBOA Board of Directors, so I invited both Booth and Pollard to be guests on the Net Assets Podcast this month. The main focus of our discussion was how their experience on the NBOA Board has helped them serve their schools’ boards of trustees on the other side of the table as staff members.

I am wary to toot our own horn here at NBOA; I prefer to let the work of the association speak for itself, but I did want to highlight a few practices of the NBOA Board that Booth and Pollard shared were personally helpful to them in their own roles. For example, Pollard called out a practice of conducting a board member scan. The NBOA Board, for example, begins each meeting by asking every director to share an opportunity, challenge or issue on their campuses. The Board spends about an hour on matters that may seem anecdotal, but it’s time very well spent, bringing the room together and allowing directors to learn from each other. And, very often, common themes emerge which are both helpful to the Board and the NBOA staff. This has proven so impactful that many NBOA board members have applied this same exercise at other boards they serve on.

Among other observations, Booth shared how serving as NBOA Board Chair gave him a different perspective on serving his school’s board. As Board Chair he strove to stay out of the weeds and keep fellow directors at a strategic level, and he also has learned how to leave time and space for discussion that will support informed decision-making, which doesn’t always come easily. From my perspective, it’s key for staff to remember that board members come in and out of board work throughout the year, and it’s paramount to consider how staff can provide board members with materials and information ahead of time that will provide both data and context to elevate their contributions when they meet face-to-face.

As is the general practice of the NBOA Board, Pollard as Chair-elect shadowed Booth for one year before she assumed the leading role, which allowed her time to process the shift in responsibilities. The new role requires not just participating at a high level but managing the room and ensuring everyone feels comfortable contributing, and if not, drawing out their perspectives while the conversation moves forward at a high level.

These are just a few of the many insights shared on the latest episode of the Net Assets podcast, which now drops monthly. I hope the thoughts on governance particularly are of use to you as you head into planning for the coming school year with your school’s board of trustees.

In a blog about the NBOA Board, I would be remiss not to acknowledge and welcome our newest Directors and acknowledge how it’s healthy for boards to recruit and elect new leaders on a regular basis: Matthew Batastini, general counsel and director of human resources at Brooklyn Friends School; Taryn Clatanoff, vice president of finance at Skutt Catholic High School; Kathy Ferguson, partner at Armanino; and Carolyn Hapeman, assistant head of school for finance and operations at Westtown School, whose terms began on July 1. I also want to thank departing NBOA Board members upon completion of their service: Rick Branson, of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools; Joe Carter of United Educators; and Linda Dennison of Walnut Hill School for the Arts. It cannot be overstated how their unique insights and perspectives show up in the work of the association.

While I know this summer will be full of activity for the business office, I hope these months provide some space for strategic and generative thinking, in addition to some restorative time, which is equally important. Approaching each new school year with a clear head, solid plans, and missions in mind may be the best tools for all of us!

Follow NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields on LinkedIn.