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Ellen Glasgow
General Manager, Mission Driven Organizations

Celebrating school board leaders: School Board Appreciation Month and more

January 8, 2025
0 min read
Diligent Minute Latest insights and news for mission-driven boards

How technology can bring school boards closer to their communities

Training and board development should be a foundational tenet of an effective and functioning school board, not just a wish-list item.

As Rick Maloney, long-time state school board trainer and lecturer said, "Board professional development is not just nice to do; it is not a sideshow; and it cannot be delegated. It is the board’s principal means of improving its own capacity to assure — on behalf of constituents — a more effective school district."

As we enter a new year with new school board members joining boards across the country, here are how best practices and technology can support school board member training. Creating a framework for how board members interact with new technology will give your board the insight and tools it needs to succeed.

As voices are raised in passionate debate, it’s important to create a positive school board culture, so the board can work together cohesively and towards the goals of the strategic plan.

Setting new board members up for success is important, so we’ve created a comprehensive guide for onboarding new school board members. It’s designed to help you set the tone for your new members and emphasize the importance of good governance and shared goals. With a tip sheet for board members and practical strategies for onboarding, it’s an invaluable resource as you head into the new year.

Product highlight: Document Library

Diligent Community's customizable Document Library serves as a centralized hub for managing organizational documents, offering both public and private folder options to balance transparency with security.

The Library streamlines document management through searchable content, controlled access permissions, and Microsoft integration capabilities, while ensuring sensitive information remains protected.

Learn more about Document Library and discover other valuable Diligent Community features that can transform your governance →

How Aspen School District increased board efficiency

After eight years of using BoardDocs, the Aspen School District was ready to upgrade. In January 2024, the board migrated to Diligent Community, a large project that was made surprisingly simple for the five-school 1,600-student district.

The Aspen School District has received positive feedback from the public on the new site – with several noting that they appreciate how easy it is to access the information they need. Diligent Community is measurably driving efficiency with live minutes, meeting templates and a more accessible website.

“Don’t wait. Just bite the bullet and do it. Diligent Community is very intuitive. Sooner is better, and I highly recommend starting fresh at the beginning of a year. It’s so much more efficient and easier to use.” - Alice Black, Executive Assistant and Special Project Manager, Aspen School District

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News and events

West Virginia School Boards Association Winter Conference

February 7-8, 2025

The West Virginia School Boards Association Winter Conference, at the Charleston Marriott Town Center, brings together school board members, administrators, and education leaders from across the state. This event offers sessions on governance, education policy, and best practices for addressing the unique challenges facing West Virginia schools.

Visit us at our booth to connect with our team, learn about Diligent Community and explore how our solutions can support your school board’s governance and transparency. We look forward to seeing you in Charleston!

More events for public facing board members to attend this year can be found here

School Board Appreciation Month 
January, 2025 

School Board Appreciation Month is an opportunity to celebrate school district leaders for all they do. It’s a formal opportunity to recognize those who give their time to improving outcomes for districts, schools, and students. Here are some proven ways to celebrate people in your district

Coming next month: Public Schools Week is a celebration dedicated to honoring the achievements of educators and education advocates in our public schools and the communities they serve. 

More seasonal events for your calendar here

Celebrating our Community Champions

Diligent’s Community Champions program honors exceptional individuals driving innovation, resilience and sustainable practices in education, government and nonprofit organizations.

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Do you know someone making a difference? Nominate them today to start the year by recognizing their incredible impact!

What else is trending?

Our pick of the newest and most popular items on our blog this month.

Give your feedback and win

We love to hear what leaders think about issues and key topics that affect mission-driven organizations. Please take a moment to fill out our latest quick survey on the topic of onboarding new board members for the chance to win a $50 gift card!

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