The Independent School Trustee Series

A Framework for Boards to Succeed

October 27, 2009

A Trustee‘s Primer on the Strategic Process This new booklet, the second in a series for independent school trustees, addresses the responsibilities of independent school trustees in creating and implementing a strategic planning process via 10 basic steps. It is meant to be a companion guide to the more detailed book The Strategic Process: 10 Steps for Planning Your Independent School's Future (and is best read in addition to the full book). You may also order this booklet in packets of 10. 36 pages First Edition, 2008 List Price: $20.00 Member Price: $15.00
	Holding the Trust An Independent School Trustee's Guide to Fiduciary Responsiblitites This booklet, the first in the Independent School Trustees' Series, addresses trustees' major areas of responsibility, ranging from compliance with the spirit of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to standards of conduct and duties, to conflicts of interest. It covers state and federal laws that affect nonprofits like schools, as well as governance practices not mandated by law. This booklet covers such topics as the audit committee, trustee term limits, and parent trustees. The appendix offers a sample conflict-of-interest policy. Read an excerpt from the book You may also order this booklet in packets of 10. 38 pages First Edition, 2006 List Price: $20.00 Member Price: $15.00
Doing More with Less How Committees and Task Forces Can Strengthen Your Board Use committees to jump-start your school’s board of trustees. View a preview of Doing More with Less. In today’s environment, where accountability and transparency are watchwords, how can your independent school’s board of trustees ensure that it meets its fiduciary responsibilities? How can it operate most effectively? How can it best serve your school and its constituencies? Board committees can help. By working effectively through committees and task forces and ensuring that they have appropriate relationships with the entire board, your trustees can fulfill their important goals and obligations and do so in the most efficient way possible. This booklet describes the roles of committees and task forces and suggests ways your board can make best use of them. Sections address the fundamentals of board committees, standing or permanent board committees, task forces and other ad hoc committees, advisory committees, and committees that should be dissolved. While each school must tailor its approach to its own needs, this booklet outlines what usually works best. A well-organized board, with appropriate committees and task forces, can do much to guide your institution, help it navigate the myriad issues it confronts, and ensure that it successfully reaches its goals, even — and perhaps especially — in challenging times. You may also order this booklet in packets of 10. 68 pages First Edition, 2009 List Price: $20.00 Member Price: $15.00
	The Strategic Process 10 Steps for Planning Your Independent School's Future View a preview of The Strategic Process. How can you be sure that your school is heading in the right direction? The Strategic Process: 10 Steps for Planning Your Independent School's Future, can help you get started! In a world of constant and unexpected change, is it even possible to plan strategically? Yes, as long as you shift from viewing strategic planning as an isolated event and adopt an ongoing strategic posture. NAIS's new book, The Strategic Process: 10 Steps for Planning Your Independent School's Future, tells you: How to determine objectively your school's current situation, How to develop a flexible road map for where you want to go in the future, and How to move your school from "good to great." In addition, there are case studies about strategic planning in different independent school settings and an appendix chock-full of worksheets, checklists, and other resources you can use in your strategy work. Buy extra copies for your planning committtee and get started now! 183 pages First Edition, 2007 List Price: $55.00 Member Price: $40.00