When looking for an administrator, the board must assess the charter school's specific needs, then seek a qualified individual who has the skills and experience to guide the charter school in meeting those needs. The board should also periodically evaluate the performance of the administrator in carrying out the decisions of the board and other assigned responsibilities. Boards set important policies. As stewards of the charter school, the board takes leadership in the overall policy development and implementation process. The board makes major financial and operation decisions for the school, such as setting policies which impact whether or not the school makes progress toward meeting the student achievement and other objectives agreed to in the charter contract.
Boards help to raise funds.
The ability to raise funds is an important measure of a board's effectiveness in serving a charter school. Building a group of regular financial donors will make it easier for the charter school to fulfill its mission and achieve its goals. Having an effective board recruitment and nominations process in place is the first, and by far the most important, board development practice. While it is time-consuming, instituting a thoughtful process from the start, rather than approaching the task as an ad hoc activity, will result in a more accurate assessment of the charter school board s leadership needs, ensure the involvement of the best qualified individuals, and create a solid orientation process for new board members. Develop a profile of the current charter school board.