Master Board (MB) Program

The program features a skills-based curriculum which requires 20 hours of training.  Eight hours are prescribed curriculum at a Master Board Forum; the remaining twelve (12) hours, completed in three (3) onsite sessions of four (4) hours each.

All school district governance teams are eligible to participate—teams who currently hold the Master Board distinction, teams who previously earned the Master Board distinction but lost it due to a change on the governance team, and teams who have never earned the Master Board distinction.

Should a team currently hold the Master Board distinction and add only one new member to their governance team, they may go through the Master Board Reinstatement Program. This program is a seven (7) hour condensed Master Board Forum, held onsite at the convenience of the district.

To earn the Master Board Distinction, a majority of the board members and the superintendent must be present at the following sessions:

Training Hours	Training Session
8	Master Board Forum
4	Onsite Training Module
4	Onsite Training Module
4	Onsite Training Module
20	TOTAL POINTS/TRAINING HOURS NEEDED

Great effort is put into ensuring that all training sessions are scheduled at mutually convenient times and locations.

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 (in January after an election year) to invite leadership teams to apply for participation in the Master Board Program.  The first step is for the leadership team to file an “Intent to Participate Agreement” with the FSBA Office.  The “Intent to Participate Agreement” 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 “Intent to Participate Agreement.”

Q:  What is the cost of the Master Board Program?

A: Fees are based on district size:
• $4,800 for small member districts (5 members)
• $5,000 for large member districts (7+ members)
• $2,000 reinstatement fee for small member districts
• $2,200 reinstatement fee for large member districts
Note: Reinstatement applies when a master board team adds one new member. Contact FSBA for partial member district pricing. All “Intent to Participate Agreements” must include the fee or purchase order.

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.