Value for Charters
ISBA Membership Services Brochure for Charters is a detailed PDF that outlines all of ISBA’s services specifically for charter schools.
INSURANCE:
Property & Liability Insurance:
Protect your schools and reduce your costs by participating in a program specifically designed for Idaho school districts and charter schools. Over 75% of Idaho school districts and charter schools are now enrolled and over the past ten years they have received over $6.4 million in dividends.
Travel Insurance:
Every ISBA school board member is covered with $50,000 additional life insurance in case of an accident during district-related travel.
POLICY SERVICES
Policy Update Service:
A primary function of ISBA is to support and improve policy-making by Idaho’s public school boards. The Policy Services staff provide reliable, authoritative policy assistance and information to help school boards draft and maintain policies. ISBA Policy Staff help schools update their policies based upon changes in legislation. 88 Idaho school districts and 13 charter schools are currently members of the Policy Update Service. In addition, many districts have contracted ISBA services for a custom re-write of their policy manual or purchased ISBA’s model policy manual. Policy Services
LABOR RELATIONS
ISBA Job Center:
We created the ISBA Job Center to provide school districts and charter schools the opportunity to post job openings to reach the greatest audience possible. The fee to post a job is minimal and there are several options to choose from to help promote the openings. ISBA Job Center
Salary Schedule:
Each year the ISBA compiles salary schedule and benefit information from Idaho school districts and charter schools to create the Salary Schedule and is offered in electronic format to all members as part of their membership dues.
Legal Services:
ISBA provides four hours of legal services per member district or charter school each fiscal year. This block of prepaid legal time allows members to utilize ISBA’s legal services for complicated legal questions or other services such as policy and/or contract drafting or review, or negotiations advice. Members are able to allocate their legal time as they see fit without regard to topic. By getting accurate legal advice upfront, ISBA members can often avoid costly litigation down the road.
ISBA Job Descriptions Manual:
We heard from many school districts and charter schools that having a resource for model job descriptions would be a great benefit. From superintendent to custodian, the ISBA Job Descriptions Manual will provide qualifications, reporting structures, job goals, scope of responsibilities, and more for the many jobs in your district. You’ll be able to simply customize each sample description to meet your district’s needs.
Superintendent Search:
ISBA understands the choice of a superintendent or charter school administrator is one of the most important decisions the board will make. ISBA offers professional services to school boards seeking to fill a superintendent or administrator vacancy. Superintendent Search Service staff work with the district or charter school to customize the process to meet district or charter school and community needs. ISBA staff handles the details and presents the board with options to consider in filling the superintendent or administrator position. This service includes any or all of the following: promoting the position opening nationwide, providing the board with sample interview questions, assisting the board with the interview process, and/or mentoring the new superintendent or administrator for the first year to assist in a smooth and effective transition with the district. ISBA Superintendent Search
Negotiations Service:
To assist your school district or charter school in meeting the challenges brought about by labor negotiations and labor relations in general, ISBA staff offers negotiation services. They include master agreement analysis, master agreement data base search, and advice during negotiations. ISBA can also negotiate on your behalf.
Negotiation Questions & Answers:
ISBA receives countless emails and phone calls requesting information on negotiations and how to comply with the law throughout the negotiation process. ISBA periodically publishes selected questions and answers to our website.
Government Affairs & Legislative Advocacy:
As a service for school districts and charter schools, ISBA Legislative Services staff works with legislators, the State Board of Education, the State Department of Education, and the Governor’s office, as well as other education stakeholders in developing education legislation, as directed by the membership, and opposing bills that restrict local control of schools. To advocate for school districts and charter schools, the ISBA staff and Government Affairs Committee are involved in day-to-day activities at the Legislature.
BOARD TRAINING
Board Training:
ISBA strives to provide school board members with the information, training, and support needed to serve your district or charter. Developing highly trained and effective board/superintendent or administrator teams will help to positively affect student achievement and education. Board Development
New Board Member Packet:
The new board member packet includes articles, books, handouts, and forms. In addition, you will have a mentor from our staff to assist you with your needs.
Regular Training Modules:
There are over 30 training modules, including ones that address the six standards of Boardsmanship. These modules are offered as two-hour or four-hour workshops. They include topics such as open meeting law, effective meetings, roles and responsibilities, conflict management, patron input, and much more.
Custom Modules:
ISBA works with your board to present new and innovative trainings, customized on an individual basis. Some of these modules include: strategic planning, board retreats, setting board goals, board superintendent/administrator teams. Contact us to help you plan for specific areas of training to move your board to a highly effective governance team!
EVENTS
Annual Convention:
The Annual Convention is a valuable professional development opportunity for boards, superintendents, administrators, and clerks. In addition, the ISBA Business Session is every school districts’ and charters’ opportunity to vote on the policy issues that will comprise ISBA’s legislative platform for the upcoming year.
Day on the Hill:
This annual event held in February is an important opportunity for board members and others to visit with their local legislators about education-related issues. Additionally, ISBA provides workshops, and leadership also presents testimony to the House and Senate Education Committees.
Boots on the Ground:
This annual webinar is an opportunity for our membership to find out how to proceed with the latest legislation passed now that the legislative session has concluded.
Region Meetings:
Each fall, ISBA’s regions hold meetings to share ideas, report on current developments, discuss legislative advocacy, and more. These meetings provide board members and district or charter school leadership an opportunity to learn from their colleagues and share with others in their region.
Summer Leadership Institute:
The Summer Leadership Institute is offered to all ISBA members. This is a great learning opportunity for new and experienced board members as well as the district or charter school leadership team. Workshops may include training in roles and responsibilities, board ethics, effective meetings, school finance, board policy, and more.
PUBLICATIONS
SLATE:
Published four times a year, it provides an in-depth perspective of issues all board members need to understand and offers a quick summary of current news and upcoming activities.
Policy Update News:
Published in the SLATE to keep members apprised of current policy changes.
Education Directory:
An essential tool for school district trustees, charter school board members, superintendents, clerks, business managers, and other education stakeholders. The Education Directory includes a complete list of contact information.
Clerk’s Manual:
This Manual was created to assist board clerks, and discusses a variety of topics, including employment forms, contracts, levies, special meetings, meeting notices, oaths, elections, meeting minutes, and much more.
Capitol Notes:
A weekly e-newsletter posted on our website during the legislative session.
OTHER BENEFITS
Ask ISBA:
ISBA staff receives questions from board members, superintendents, and clerks on a variety of topics. To help others learn from these questions and answers, ISBA offers the Ask ISBA service on its website. Members can submit their questions online and also review an archive of previously asked questions and answers. Ask ISBA
Access to Regional Email Lists:
ISBA has created regional email lists to provide an additional tool for communication with colleagues in your region. The email lists are available to board members, superintendents, charter administrators, clerks, and business managers for effective communication among ISBA’s nine regions.
Services with ISBA Business Partners & Affiliates:
ISBA’s Business Partners and Affiliates have proven their unwavering support of education and Idaho school boards by partnering with ISBA. These companies provide phenomenal services and products to assist Idaho’s schools. Many of these companies offer exclusive prices for ISBA members.