Strategic Boards.

The Bylaws Committee has finally finished its draft proposal. It will be holding a hearing next week for Board members to comment about the Bylaws.

One of the major contemplated changes in the Bylaws is to have the Board select and appoint itself. In short, the current leadership picks its successors.

As a natural democrat (note the small "d"), I was initially against a proposal that would take some of the democracy away from the selection of the Board. However, after considering the proposal, and communicating with other Board presidents, I realize that it makes a lot of sense.

First, being on the Board of an independent school is not like being on the School Board of LAUSD; Board members do not represent anyone but the school. Their role is to help fulfill the School's stated mission through application of their time, talent, and resources. Their fundamental job is to raise the school's image, raise the number of students, and raise money for the school. Their job is not represent discrete factions within the school social fabric.

Second, Board members--and by this I mean the whole Board, and not Executive Committee members--have more knowledge about what it means to be on the Board and what is needed for the future than just about anyone else. Board members are uniquely qualified to make strategic picks for the Board that mesh with the school's overall strategic direction.

Third, in the past decade, few people who were not nominated themselves ever came to an election meeting; thus, it's not as if everyone is voting and now we are disenfranchising them.

So the proposed Bylaws gives the Board, through a detailed and open process, the right to select the school's future leadership.

This is not only best practice, but it makes a lot of sense.

Even for a democrat like me.