All Aboard

"In response to a community's message sent by the election of three new members, a school board considers how it can become both effective and respected by the community. Using outside expertise to help examine beliefs, attitudes and procedures, the board discovers the power of listening and reflection. The board seeks community input as it deals with detecting a vision, religion and prayer in schools, termination of an employee, selecting a new superintendent, school safety and student discipline. After the board takes action on each issue, one member's reflection is shared with the reader. The school board discerns that schools belong to the community, not to the board and deduces that community leadership is essential to its effectiveness. In spite of strong disagreement among its members, the board concludes that It cannot lead in different directions simultaneously. Rather, it must lead in a single direction or it doesn't lead. The board learns how disagreement can be a strength rather than a weakness in its deliberations. These discoveries shed new light on the purpose and procedures of school board meetings and activities"--