Woodland D50 Board of Education Earns Governance Recognition Honor
Gurnee, IL - The Woodland D50 Board of Education has been recognized for their exceptional governance practices by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB). Woodland was one of 35 Illinois school districts to earn the School Board Governance Recognition for their effective governance behaviors and their commitment toward obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively govern the district.
IASB's School Board Governance Recognition program acknowledges local boards of education that practice good governance behaviors as outlined by IASB's Foundational Principles of Effective Governance. The focus of Governance Recognition is on full board development and participation, rather than on individual members. Boards of education that meet the necessary requirements are recognized for the two-year honorary distinction.
"To say that this board works hard is an understatement," said Superintendent Dr. Lori Casey. "They are constantly working to improve the district for our students and staff. Together, and as individuals, members seek professional development opportunities to advance their governance knowledge and learn from the successes of their peers in other districts. I genuinely appreciate how carefully they monitor the district's performance to ensure that we are meeting the goals that align with our mission. They hold us to a high standard and that benefits our entire learning community."
The extensive Governance Recognition application provided the opportunity for the Woodland D50 Board of Education to feature recent initiatives and accomplishments pursued in support of Woodland students. This recognition honors the progress the board has made toward reaching its strategic plan goals, creating a more welcoming experience for all students through equity and inclusion work, and advancing capital projects in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner. There is also recognition of the work the board does to seek feedback from stakeholders and to give community members the opportunity for their voices to be heard.
The School Board Governance Recognition program aims to showcase how good governance creates a positive impact for students, staff, and the entire district community. It provides an opportunity for districts to tell their story about programs and projects that are improving outcomes in their local school districts and offers board members a chance to highlight how continuous learning, both by individual board members and the full board team, results in improved governance for the board of education and positive outcomes for the district.
"I am incredibly honored for our board to receive this recognition and I'm proud of my fellow Board Members for their steadfast commitment to this district and our students. We strive to continually improve our leadership skills and knowledge. It requires careful time and attention, and a great deal of extra effort to be a successful board and provide a high quality educational experience for our students," said Board President Carla Little.
"There is a misconception that the work of the school board starts and stops at our regular board meetings. A majority of our work actually happens outside the meetings; studying the issues, communicating with the community, advocating on behalf of our district, and learning the intricacies of school finance, just to name a few. Serving on the school board is a lot of work, but it's worth it to see our students achieve success and go on to do great things in their lives and for their communities," reiterated Little.
More information about the IASB School Board Governance Recognition program can be found on the Illinois Association of School Boards website https://www.iasb.com/.