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New School Board Member? Start Here!

Were you recently elected to your local school board? Looking to get more involved in the WASB? We’ve got you covered.

Serving on your local school board is an important job, with a lot of moving parts. We will continue updating this page with resources to help you get up and running, including access to the New School Board Member Handbook, the relevant webinars, contact information and anything else that will acquaint you to your new role.

Log in
Log in to the WASB website to access member benefits and explore the wide range of online resources available to you. To log in, use the email address where you receive WASB communications. Use the “forgot password” link when setting a password for the first time. If you need assistance logging in, please contact WASB Director of Communications Brock Fritz.
Contact WASB Staff

The WASB supports school boards, so boards can better support their students. With that in mind the 30-plus staff members and consultants are ready to assist you or answer any questions you may have. Find the full list of staff members here. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything. For general inquiries, contact us at info@wasb.org or 833-320-5333.

New School Board Member Gatherings

The WASB will host 15 in-person New School Board Member Gatherings around the state from April 17-24 to introduce new school board members to the WASB’s services, as well as the laws that affect board service and governance. Additionally, a virtual meeting will be held on May 1 for new school board members statewide. All gatherings are complimentary, and no registration is required.

New School Board Member Handbook

Drawing on the deep well of knowledge and expertise of the WASB, the New School Board Member Handbook provides information about the basics of school board service and answers questions commonly asked by new board members.

We hope you find the handbook a helpful reference as you begin your school board service. The online version includes dozens of embedded links to the referenced statutes, WASB resources and other guidance.

This content is password protected for members only. Contact us if you are a member and need assistance logging in. Hard copies may be requested by sending an email to info@wasb.org.

Basic Legal and Governance Resources

The WASB created this webpage to provide a compilation of basic governance, legal, policy, advocacy and other resources intended to help new school board members get started. For more information on any of these topics, please visit the related department website pages. Please contact the WASB with any questions. Member login may be required to access some materials.

Events
Becoming a new school board member is an exciting and challenging role. Attending Wisconsin Association of School Boards events is one of the best ways to gain the knowledge needed to serve effectively. It’s also the best place to meet peers, make connections and collaborate to lift up public education across Wisconsin.
 
Highlighted by the Wisconsin State Education Convention each January, WASB’s event calendar also features the:
These events provide essential training on governance, legal matters, policy-making and financial oversight, ensuring that new board members understand their responsibilities and can make informed decisions for their districts. Attending these gatherings allows new members to engage with experienced board leaders, legal experts and education professionals who can offer guidance and best practices for tackling the complex issues facing public education today.
 
Frequent virtual webinars also keep members informed and up to date on everything happening in public education. Often held at 12 p.m. on weekdays, most WASB webinars are offered live and recorded for members to watch when it suits them. Webinars to bookmark in the immediate future include the ongoing “Running Effective School Board Meetings” series and “WASB 101: Ask the WASB” Q&A session on May 20.
 
Check out our full list of in-person and online events, and we hope to see you soon!
Member Recognition Program

Through its Member Recognition Program, the WASB recognizes board members who are committed to professional development. Board members earn points for attending WASB events and participating in specific activities. After earning a designated number of points, board members are awarded an Achievement Level and publicly recognized at that member’s WASB Fall Regional Meeting.

Learn more and start earning points while developing as a board member.

Supplementary Resources
  • Get started on the WASB website with the Basic Resources page. It’s a compilation of basic legal, policy, fiscal and governance resources. 
  • Watch the ongoing “Running Effective School Board Meetings” webinar series, which is being rolled out through April and May to provide insights on scheduling board meetings, agendas, parliamentary procedures, closed sessions and more. Click here for a full list of upcoming webinars. This series can be watched live or as a recording by visiting our Complimentary Events Video Library.
  • Read the most commonly asked questions by new members.
  • Get your questions answered by joining the “WASB 101: Ask the WASB” Q&A session on May 20.
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