2026 New School Board Member Gatherings
The WASB’s 2026 New School Board Member Gatherings were held throughout the state from April 21-23 to introduce new school board members to the WASB’s services, as well as the laws that affect board service and governance.
A statewide online New School Board Member Gathering was held on Tuesday, April 28. Find the recording and presentation materials here. Contact WASB Director of Communications Brock Fritz if you need assistance accessing the recording.
We appreciate your commitment to your school district. To help you throughout your board service, find resources below and on our landing page for new school board members.
New School Board Member Gathering Agenda
Welcome to School Board Service
Overview of the Role of the School Board
Characteristics of an Effective School Board
Tips for Effective Board Service
About the WASB
Oath of Office
School Board Meeting Fundamentals
- Open Meetings and Public Records Laws
- Meeting Preparation and Public Input
- Responding to Citizens and the Media
- Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
- Policymaking
Overview of WASB Services, Information and Events
WASB.org Introduction
Questions and Discussion
Resources
New School Board Member Gathering attendees will receive a packet of materials to help them get acquainted with their new role. Digital materials can be found below.
- At Your Service
- New Board Member Handbook
- What Every School Board Member Needs to Know Guide
- Contact Us
- Board Policy Adoption and Review
- Sample Policy
- Presentation Materials
Reach out to info@wasb.org if you are seeking resources that can’t be found here.
Find Your WASB Region
Click on your region of the state to learn about your WASB director and see a list of districts that comprise the region.
Open Meetings Law
In order to avoid the perception that a board is violating the Open Meetings Law, a district may wish to post a notice, in accordance with its local board policy, that communicates to the community that a certain number of board members and/or other district officials will be attending the New School Board Member Gathering. This type of notice should explicitly state that the board will not convene or conduct any board business during the meeting. Please see below for a WASB Legal Comment that addresses these type of open meeting law issues in the context of our State Education Convention which are analogous to a New School Board Member Gathering.