Statement of Principles
Pennsylvania school boards are committed to providing every student the opportunity to grow and
achieve. Our actions, as elected and appointed Board members, ultimately have both short and
long-term impacts in the classroom. Therefore, we pledge that we will ...
Advocate Earnestly
- Promote public education as a keystone of our Commonwealth
- Engage the community by seeking input, building support networks, and generating action
- Champion public education by engaging local, state, and federal officials
- Lead Responsibly
- Prepare for, attend, and actively participate in Board meetings
- Work together with civility and cooperation, respecting that individuals hold differing opinions and ideas
- Participate in professional development, training, and Board retreats
- Collaborate with the Superintendent, acknowledging their role as the 10th member of the
- Board and commissioned officer of the Commonwealth
Govern Effectively
- Establish and adhere to rules and procedures for Board operations
- Develop, adopt, revise, and review policy routinely
- Align Board decisions to policy, ensuring compliance with the PA School Code and other local, state and federal laws
- Remain focused on the role of governance, effectively delegating management tasks to the administration
Plan Thoughtfully
- Implement a collaborative strategic planning process
- Set annual goals that are aligned with the comprehensive plans, recognizing the need to
- adapt as situations change
- Develop a comprehensive financial plan and master facilities plan that anticipates short and long-term needs
- Allocate resources to effectively impact student success
- Evaluate Continuously
- Make data-informed decisions
- Evaluate the Superintendent annually
- Focus on student growth and achievement
- Review the effectiveness of all comprehensive and strategic plans
Communicate Clearly
- Promote open, honest, and respectful dialogue among the Board, staff, and community
- Acknowledge and listen to varied input from all stakeholders
- Promote transparency while protecting necessary confidential matters
- Set expectations and guidelines for individual Board member communication
Act Ethically
- Never use the position for improper benefit to self or others
- Avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest
- Recognize school directors do not possess any authority outside of the collective Board
- Accept that when a Board has made a decision, it is time to move forward collectively and constructively