Ethics, Relationships Paramount for School Board

The most important thing a school board can do, aside from guiding a school district to success, is to maintain strong relationships that will translate into confidence from the community, said instructor Dr. Bernard Baggs of the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Baggs spoke with the West Morris Regional Board of Education at its most recent meeting for an ethics training as mandated by the state.

First, Baggs explained the regional district is different than many in the state, as it encompasses just grades nine through 12, rather than a full K through 12.

“The first thing you need to do, as a board, is think like a K-12,” Baggs said. “You’re taking in students from K-8s in the area to be part of your district. You have to think like a K-12 or what you do doesn’t make sense.”

Baggs then explained the importance of relationships both on the board and with the community.

There are three relationships that are paramount, Baggs said, starting with the board president (James Johnston, Chester Township) and the superintendent (Mackey Pendergrast) of the district.

“The board president speaks for the board,” Baggs said. “When the community sees a strong relationship between these two, it gains confidence in what the board and the district are doing.”

The other two relationships are between the superintendent and business administrator, and the superintendent and board as a whole.

Intentional Altruism

Members of the board, Baggs believed, are there to make the school system better for those who learn there. And if not, maybe a school board is not a place for that person, Baggs said.

“If you’re a board member, that means you truly believe you’re sitting here to make the district better,” Baggs said. “You’re sitting there, thinking to yourself, ‘before I vote, what’s in it for the kids?’”

Baggs stated New Jersey was the number two state in the country, behind Florida, with households that do not send children to their local school district.

“Public confidence is what this is about,” Baggs said. “The community should reflect the schools and the schools should reflect the community.”

Do you think the West Morris Regional Board of Education is a positive reflection of the school district?