Training needs of school board members in the state of Missouri

This project examined the training needs of school board members in the state of Missouri. Of the 520 school districts in Missouri, 382 are members of the Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA). The school board members of the MSBA schools were surveyed in this project.;Data was gathered relating to the training needs of board members with 1 to 5 years of experience, members with 6 to 10 years experience, members with 11 to 15 years experience and board members with 16 plus years experience in the areas of training topics, training methods, essential skills, functions of the school board, and MSBA member services. Demographic data such as gender, education, and career experience were reviewed to determine if there was any observable impact on respondents' training needs.;The project team used a survey developed by Dr. Sandra McGeough of the University of South Dakota. Two questions were added to the survey that pertained directly to information to be utilized by MSBA to assist in training offerings and use of a self-evaluation tool to determine training needs for school boards.;Results from the surveys were analyzed. The findings were compared to past research in school board governance and related literature on effective school board practices. The project team found that school boards rate budget/finance, decision-making, policy development and long range visionary planning as the most important training topics. The study goes on to identify using associated school boards, mentorship/peer help and mini seminars as the preferred training methods for school board members. Finally, in the areas of essential skills school board members thought having good financial skills, writing skills, human relations skills, having knowledge of school law and being able to participate in long range planning were vital. School board members identified long range planning as the most important essential skill included in the survey..