Districts interested in board development training can contact OSBA Board Development Director Kristen Miles at [email protected].
After 17 years as InterMountain Education Service District superintendent – and 37 years in education – Mark Mulvihill is an expert at working with school boards and helping them navigate the ins and outs of serving on a board.
When OSBA decided to bring on part-time contractors to help conduct regional training for board members, Mulvihill was first on their list, said Kristen Miles, OSBA’s director of Board Development.
“Mark is well known for his expertise in governance and what the board does,” she said. “He’s well respected all over the state and has been working with boards for a long time. He knows the issues and really knows the communities.”
By using locally trusted and knowledgeable trainers, OSBA can offer a valuable service to boards while saving districts money on travel costs, said Miles. OSBA plans to engage additional part-time contractors to serve in southern and central Oregon. The trainings are typically three hours long and outside normal business hours, so the contracted trainers can easily fit them around their current employment.
OSBA uses research-based training, grounded in the “12 Standards for Effective Boardsmanship” developed from Tom Alsbury’s research on “Balanced Governance.” Trainings are tailored to districts’ needs on a wide range of topics, including board governance and effective communication.
Training helps boards operate more responsively to their communities and more effectively with their superintendents, Miles said.
Mulvihill said it’s crucial for school boards to understand their roles and responsibilities: School boards implement policy and hire and support the superintendent while it’s the superintendent’s job to run the district.
“But what I often see in these trainings is the lines are blurred,” he said. “That’s where training gets critical.”
InterMountain ESD is based in Pendleton and works with 21 school districts in four counties. Mulvihill is “like the energizer bunny” when it comes to working with boards, said Kelly Bissinger, the InterMountain ESD board chair. “He’s totally committed to this work.”
Mulvihill’s expertise and friendly approach have earned him kudos from board members. Kit Evans, Elgin School Board chair, described her board as “a baby board” because the members are relatively new and eager to make sure they follow the correct policies and procedures.
“Mark presented us with such a wealth of knowledge,” she said. “He has an ability to break down the complexities of the board in a compassionate and professional manner. All of us walked out so much more equipped to do our work.”
She said his understanding of living and working in small, rural communities is a plus.
“Being a rural school board member is different from being an urban board member,” Mulvihill acknowledged.
Lance Dixon, North Powder School District superintendent, said Mulvihill has worked with his board many times over the years on goal setting, planning and roles and responsibilities. He said Mulvihill has a professional, non-threatening way of communicating with people.
“At our last board meeting, our board said, ’No offense but we really want to ask Mark some questions,’” said Dixon. “I told them it isn’t any offense to me because when I have questions, guess who I call.”
Justin Bingham, a North Powder School Board member, said one of Mulvihill’s best qualities is his ability to inspire school boards to fulfill their responsibilities in the best possible way.
“Mark is never condescending but rather is motivating and enjoyable to work with,” said Bingham. “It seems that every time he has met with our board, we feel more confident and more focused on our actual board responsibilities.”
Mulvihill said one of the rewards of working with school boards is to see their growth as they solve problems and learn how to work as a unit with their superintendents.
“Not only are people very appreciative, but you can see the gears spinning,” he said. “It takes pressure off. You can almost see the anxiety being relieved.”
– Connie Potter, OSBA
