Your journey as a school board leader starts here – Michigan Association of School Boards

WELCOME TO YOUR ASSOCIATION

Congratulations on being elected as a school board member! You’ve taken on one of the most important responsibilities in public education—helping shape the future for every Michigan student. While this role comes with significant responsibilities, please know that you're not alone on this journey.

As the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of School Boards, I want to personally welcome you to our community. MASB exists specifically to support dedicated school board members like you. We’ve been guiding and empowering school board members since 1949, and we’re here to help you navigate every aspect of your new role – from understanding board policy to mastering board governance.

You’re now part of a powerful network of more than 4,000 school board members across Michigan. Together, our collective voice shapes educational policy at both the state and federal levels. Whether you’re attending our training sessions, accessing our resources, or connecting with fellow board members, we’re committed to helping you become as effective as possible in your role.

This page provides an overview of essential learning opportunities to get started with and support available to you. I encourage you to review it carefully, take advantage of as much as possible, and let us know if there’s ever anything we can do to assist you or your district. Because, at the end of the day we’re all here fighting for the same reason—the education of our kids.

Don P. Wotruba, CAE

Executive Director

MISSION

To provide high-quality educational leadership services for all Michigan boards of education and to advocate for an equitable and exceptional public education that leads to improved outcomes for all students.

BOARD MEMBER BASICS:
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ROLE

What do school board members do?

The board governs the district’s work at the highest level by establishing policies that guide the superintendent.
The board hires, supports and regularly evaluates the superintendent’s performance.
The board approves the district’s budget.

What don't school board members do?

The board does not manage day-to-day operations.
The board does not directly handle operational matters such as staffing, curriculum implementation or facility management.
No single board member has any power outside of a legally called school board meeting. During such meetings, the school board sits in trust for the entire local community.

How does MASB help me be a better board member?

Member access to in-house legal counsel to help you navigate complex laws and legal challenges in your role as a board member.
Keeping you informed about the latest education news and helping ensure your policies stay current with timely updates.
Offering customized trainings on every essential topic you need to know to address board responsibilities.
Providing you with highly skilled and professional staff, ready to assist you with policy, law, governance, labor relations, advocacy, community relations, strategic planning, board-level and individual training and superintendent search.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR ROLE

LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE

The Certified Board Member Awards (CBA) program takes you from foundational concepts to advanced certifications, equipping you with essential knowledge to make informed decisions and serve your community effectively.

VIEW CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Through MASB's year-round Institutes and Annual Leadership Conference, you'll experience focused, intensive learning while building valuable connections with fellow board members—helping you advance your certification journey.

GETTING STARTED: YOUR LEARNING PATHWAY

CBA
101

LEARN MORE

MASB encourages all newly elected or appointed board members to take our 101 Board Member Certification Class (CBA), which covers the Fundamentals of School Board Service.

This comprehensive course provides an essential overview of school district governance and board responsibilities.

Our self-paced online courses make it easy to fit board development into your busy schedule. All of our 100-level foundational courses are available asynchronously online, along with many others.

ONLINE COURSES

LEARN MORE

TRAINING

REIMBURSEMENT

VIEW COURSES

Many of our CBA courses qualify for up to $100 reimbursement for individual board members through the Michigan Department of Education, making training accessible to all board members regardless of their district's financial resources.

BUILD YOUR NETWORK
AND EXPAND YOUR LEARNING

Feb. 7 – 8 Live Virtual Event

CBA 101: Fundamentals of School Board Service

CBA 102: Governing Through Policy

CBA 103: Basic School Finance

CBA 104: Basic School Law

CBA 105: Curriculum and Instruction

May 2 – 4 Mission Point, Mackinac Island

CBA 102: Governing Through Policy

CBA 104: Basic School Law

CBA 105: Curriculum and Instruction

CBA 107: Labor Relations

CBA 108: Navigating the Legislative Process

Aug. 15 – 16 MASB Headquarters, Lansing

CBA 101: Fundamentals of School Board Service

CBA 103: Basic School Finance

CBA 106: Community Relations

CBA 107: Labor Relations

CBA 109: Data-Informed Decisionmaking

Oct. 23 – 26

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa,

Acme

Noon – 1 p.m.

Virtual

Can't attend the live session? Don't worry–recordings are available on our website!

The New Board Member Series is designed to support you during your first year of board service. Starting in January, MASB offers FREE monthly webinars covering essential topics for effective board service.

JAN. 14

Introduction to Your Association

FEB. 11

Roles, Responsibilities and
Governance Standards

MARCH 11

Understanding the Open Meetings Act

APRIL 8

From Advocacy to Action

MAY 13

Collaborating Effectively With
Your Superintendent

JUNE 10

Board Leadership: Certification and Development

AUG. 12

Guide to School Finance

SEPT. 9

School Safety Panel

OCT. 14

Policy in Practice

NOV. 11

Strategic Planning and Goal Setting

VIEW ALL AND REGISTER

WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR BOARD

Brad Banasik, J.D.

LEGAL COUNSEL AND DIRECTOR OF LABOR RELATIONS/POLICY

Brad has been with MASB for more than 25 years. He serves as program manager and Secretary for the Michigan Council of School Attorneys, as well as Secretary on the National School Boards Association's Steering Committee for the National Council of School Attorneys.

Legal Services

Expert guidance on school laws and legal decisions
Support through the Legal Trust Fund for significant litigation

Labor Relations

Professional negotiation services
Annual workshops on current labor topics
Experienced consultants for district support

Greg Sieszputowski, M.Ed.

DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES

With a decade of experience cultivating education leaders, Greg previously served as Director of the Center for Learning and Leadership at Mid Michigan College and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Kirtland Community College.

Leadership Development

Flexible in-person and online learning opportunities
Customized in-district workshops
Strategic planning and goal-setting facilitation

Executive Search Services

Thorough search process designed for each district's unique needs

Jennifer Smith

DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Jennifer has been with MASB for more than 10 years. She previously worked in the Michigan Legislature.

Serves as your voice at the Capitol
Weekly email updates on legislative activity
Legislative alerts on key education bills
Biannual Behind the Scenes at the Capitol advocacy events

MEET THE REST OF OUR TEAM

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all school board members for their dedication and commitment to our students' education. Your leadership, guidance, and decision-making are crucial in shaping the future of our students and providing them with the best opportunities to learn and grow.

As your partner, we stand ready to support you through any challenges your board encounters. Please don't hesitate to contact our staff whenever you need assistance.

THANK YOU!

Michigan Association of School Boards

1001 Centennial Way, Suite 400 Lansing, MI 48917-8249

P: 517.327.5900 | F: 517.327.0775