NAIS - NAIS Trustees' Guide: Governance Case Studies

This collection of case studies features governance issues based on actual events at NAIS schools.

The scenarios in these case studies are based on real-life situations that have occurred in multiple schools over time. These scenarios were chosen as case studies because they are representative of the types of challenging situations that schools routinely face. The names of schools and individuals named herein are intended to be fictional. Any similarity to other schools or individuals of the same or similar names is purely coincidental.

These case studies are aligned to the NAIS Principles of Good Practice (PGPs) and can be used as part of a well-defined board education program to support effective governance practices.

Governance Case Study: Board Expectations in a Capital Campaign: This case study presents the scenario of a head bringing to the board a consultant’s recommendation that the school undertake its first capital campaign in many years.
Governance Case Study: The Case of Harsh Transitions: Discipline Issues in the Classroom: This case study presents the scenario of discipline issues in a second-grade class leading to a difficult situation.
Governance Case Study: Mission Impossible?: This case study presents the scenario of a head of school presenting a new project proposal to the board.
Governance Case Study: Parents and Math: This case study presents the scenario of a board's involvement in the parent body's dissatisfaction with the school's curriculum.
Governance Case Study: Recruiting New Board Members: This case study presents the scenario of new trustees taking a conversation in an unexpected direction at their first board meeting.
Governance Case Study: Head of School Evaluations: This case study presents the scenario of a head getting unexpected feedback from the board during an evaluation.
Governance Case Study: The Case of the Powerful Community Leader: This case study presents the scenario of a high-profile community business leader strongly lobbying for significant changes at a school.
Governance Case Study: The Case of Filling the Shoes: Transition to a New Head of School: This case study presents the scenario of a first-year head preparing to ask for additional staffing and board committees to deal with several areas that need attention at the school.
Governance Case Study: Boards of a Feather: Conducting Board Business: This case study presents the scenario of trustees conducting board business outside the official board meetings.
Governance Case Study: Nominating Committee Candidate Profiles: This case study presents the scenario of which candidate to nominate to the board and also whether to ask a current member to serve a second term.
Governance Case Study: The Too Influential Trustee: This case study presents the scenario of a trustee wielding outsized influence.
Governance Case Study: Dealing with Threatening Health Concerns: This case study presents the scenario of school leaders dealing with an uncertain and rapidly changing public health threat.