Q: What is the focus of the Master Board (MB) Program?
A: The program is designed to concentrate on developing leadership skills and enhancing a leadership team’s ability to work effectively as a governance team to positively impact student achievement.
Q: For whom is the Master Board Program designed?
A: The leadership team (i.e. school board and superintendent) of each Florida school district is the “targeted audience” for the Master Board Program.
Q: Can any leadership team in Florida participate in the Master Board Program?
A: YES. The program is designed for:
- a leadership team that has never participated or completed the program;
- a leadership team that previously held the Master Board distinction and needs to reinstate its eligibility for the Master Board distinction; and,
- a leadership team that currently holds the Master Board distinction, but desires to engage in continued professional development activities.
Q: Are leadership teams required to participate in the Master Board Program?
A: NO. Program participation is voluntary.
Q: How many hours of training are required in the Master Board Program?
A: A total of 20 hours of leadership training delivered by an FSBA facilitator is required in the Master Board Program.
Q: Are there any time constraints for completing the Master Board Program?
A: YES. A maximum of 12 months is allotted for completing the Master Board Program.
Q: Who delivers Master Board training sessions?
A: Facilitators who are current or former Florida school board members conduct and facilitate the Master Board training sessions. FSBA has developed a special training program for these facilitators to complete before officially conducting any training sessions.
Q: How is the leadership team recognized for completing the Master Board Program?
A: The leadership team receives a Master Board plaque that lists the names of the leadership team members and a press release for local media outlets.
Q: Can training in the Master Board Program be used for points in the Certified Board Member Program?
A: NO. The training cannot be used to satisfy two (2) programmatic requirements, consequently, no points can be granted for the Certified Board Member Program.
Q: How does a leadership team become involved in the Master Board Program?
A: The FSBA Office generates a memorandum (November or December of even-numbered years) to invite leadership teams to apply for participation in the Master Board Program. The first step is for the leadership team to file a “letter of intent to participate” with the FSBA Office. The “letter of intent to participate” requires a majority of the school board members and the superintendent to make a commitment for attending all training sessions. The signature of each leadership team member who agrees to participate in the Master Board Program must be affixed to the “letter of intent to participate.”
Q: What is the cost of the Master Board Program?
A: The fee for the Master Board Program is $4,500.00 for FSBA member districts. When a leadership team files a “letter of intent” to participate in the Master Board Program, the $4,500.00 fee or $4,500.00 purchase order must accompany the “letter of intent.” The cost for the Reinstatement Program is $1800.00.
Q: How long does a leadership team hold the distinction of Master Board?
A: This distinction remains in effect for the period of time in which school board members with their names on the Master Board Plaque continue to serve as school board members.
Q: Does the FSBA Office advise the community when the team completes the Master Board Program?
A: YES. Press releases are sent to the School Board Chair and support staff for them to send to newspapers that are in circulation within the community.