Governing Board Best Practices

This presentation by Paul O'Neill of Potomac Law Group details essential governance best practices for Florida charter school governing boards. Highlighting the critical role boards play as financial stewards and mission guardians, the deck outlines necessary board expertise—spanning academic, financial, community, legal, HR, and fundraising domains—required to build credibility and ensure school success. It emphasizes key operational principles, including maintaining ethical responsibilities, working productively with school leaders, running effective meetings, observing bylaws and legal requirements, keeping transparent public records, and continuously keeping charter renewal in focus. Finally, the presentation uses a practical hypothetical scenario to illustrate common governance, conflict of interest, and authorizer challenges.