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Running for the CASB Board of Directors
“I feel a strong sense of satisfaction that I am personally making an impact at the state level on behalf of our students.” —CASB President Bill Bregar, on what it means to be a CASB Director
AMPLIFY your impact & EXPAND your horizons for COLORADO’s KIDS
Are you interested in becoming a member of the CASB Board of Directors? You’re in the right place. Start learning more today about this rewarding next step in your school board career.
About the CASB Board of Directors
CASB Seats Up for Election in December 2009
Board meetings, retreats and conferences
Benefits of being a CASB Director
Nomination Timeline and Procedures
About the CASB Board of Directors
CASB is governed by a 22-member board comprised of elected and appointed members of boards of education from across the state, representing CASB’s 12 geographic regions.
CASB Board members are elected each year at CASB’s annual convention and serve three-year terms.* In addition, anyone in Colorado who serves as a member of the NSBA Board of Directors also serves on the CASB Board in an at-large position. The State Board of Education is also invited to designate one of its members on an annual basis to serve as a liaison to the CASB Board of Directors.
The 22-member Board of Directors is divided among the CASB regions as follows:
| Region | Number of directors |
| Region 1: | One |
| Region 2: | One |
| Region 3: | One |
| Region 4: | Three |
| Region 5: | Three |
| Large districts**: | Four |
| Region 6: | Three |
| Region 7: | One |
| Region 8: | One |
| Region 9: | One |
| Region 10: | One |
| Region 11: | One |
| Region 12: | One |
*Some new seats on the board are less than the traditional three-year terms because of a regional reorganization in 2008. Those seats will resume their three-year terms in 2010.
**Colorado’s six largest school districts are entitled to elect four directors to the CASB Board. Those school districts are Jefferson County, Denver Public Schools, Douglas County School District, Cherry Creek Schools, Adams 12 Five Star Schools and Aurora Public Schools.
CASB Seats Up for Election in December 2009
The following list indicates seats on the CASB Board up for election, the length of term and the incumbent CASB Director currently holding each seat. Incumbents in italics are not seeking re-election.| CASB Region |
Length of Term |
Incumbent | |
| 1 | 3 years |
Gary Northup Re-1 Valley |
|
| 3 | 3 years |
John Knapp Rocky Ford R2 |
|
| 4 | 1 year* |
Jana Ley Poudre R-1 |
|
| 5 | 3 years |
Renee Howell Littleton Public Schools |
|
| 5 | 3 years |
Kevin Patterson Denver – Large District Seat |
|
| 6 | 3 years |
Jan Tanner Colorado Springs 11 |
|
| 7 | 3 years |
Tom Sifers East Grand #2 |
|
| 9 | 1 year* |
Cory Off Del Norte C-7 |
|
| 10 | 1 year* |
Leslie Kiesler Mesa Co. Valley No. 51 |
|
| 11 | 1 year* |
Jenny Patterson Telluride R-1 |
|
| 12 | 2 years* |
Sherri Wright Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 |
*Note: The length of term for this office is less than three years because either the candidate will be completing the unexpired portion of a term due to a vacancy occurring due to term limits or a resignation, or the incumbent has decided to not seek re-election.
Board Member Responsibilities
The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing CASB policies, as well as maintaining contact with other organizations whose work affects local boards of education. The Board of Directors hires the Executive Director, conducts an annual evaluation of the Executive Director, and approves the annual budget. CASB Directors serve as liaisons to other committees as appropriate. The liaisons to these committees are appointed by the CASB President.
The CASB Board's job is interesting, exciting and critical in making state-level decisions representing CASB regions. Below is a list of BOD responsibilities. Click here to view the full list of job responsibilities.
Provide a link to membership
- Serve as liaisons between CASB and boards in each region, meeting and communicating with local boards about relevant issues and apprising the CASB staff and Board of concerns and local boards’ needs.
- Connect with members at CASB conferences and convention.
Govern
- Attend in full and prepare for all board meetings. (see below)
- Participate in discussions about issues while honoring other's points of view.
- Support the board’s decision once a decision is made.
- Evaluate and follow up on board meeting outcomes. Monitor how board actions are being implemented in the short and long term. Bring up concerns with the Board President, Executive Director or Board of Directors as appropriate.
- Participate effectively in committees to which you attend on behalf of CASB.
Advocate
- Serve as vigorous advocates for CASB and local boards, locally and at state and regional levels, to promote the best interest and support the CASB mission.
- Serve as CASB ambassadors, who are knowledgeable about CASB policies, goals, plans and services.
Board Meetings, Annual Retreat and CASB Conferences
Board Meetings: Four times per year (March, June, September and December)
Note: The first official meeting for newly-elected members will be Sunday, December 6, 2009, immediately following the closing general session at the convention.
CASB Board meetings are traditionally held in Denver at CASB’s offices, with the exception of the December meeting, held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. CASB reimburses directors for round trip mileage to attend board meetings in Denver, provides meals and overnight accommodations those traveling across the state.
Annual Retreat: A Board of Directors Retreat is typically held during the second weekend in January. Locations vary.
Conferences: CASB waives registration fees for board of director members to attend CASB conferences and convention. Members are responsible for hotel accommodations, mileage and meals.
Benefits of being a CASB Director
Serving on the CASB Board of Directors takes time and dedication, but it is not without its rewards. According to current an past CASB Directors, when you become a CASB Director your board responsibilities come with these powerful benefits.
- Deepened understanding of major issues. Frequent board presentations, updates and discussions inform the CASB Board of state-level issues and how they affect Colorado school districts.
- Varied perspectives on significant state and federal issues. Discussions on major issues help board members “step out of their region” and see issues from others’ points of view.
- Camaraderie with knowledgeable experienced board members outside your immediate board.
- Knowledge of best practices from districts around the state.
- Strong sense of satisfaction that you are personally having an impact at the state level on behalf of students.
- Strengthened connection with CASB’s staff and their CASB legislative and service initiatives.
- Deepened understanding of, and a vote in, CASB’s annual initiatives.
Learn more about the CASB Board of Directors’ role here.
Nomination Timeline and Procedures
Nomination Deadline: No later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. No floor nominations may be made.Electronic submissions, in PDF format, are preferred and should be submitted to CASB President Bill Bregar c/o Ana Navratil at anavratil@casb.org. Typed, hard-copy nominations will be accepted at CASB, 1200 Grant Street Denver, CO 80203.
All nominees, both incumbents and non-incumbents, must follow the same nomination procedures. All nominations must include:
1. A letter of intent from the candidate. Letter of intent must:
- Identify the board seat to which he or she is seeking election
- Describe why he or she wants to serve on the Board of Directors
- Why he or she is well-qualified to serve on the CASB Board of Directors
- Letters should generally address or describe the qualities that would make the candidate a valuable member of the CASB Board of Directors.
- The superintendent or other employee of the candidate’s school district may not submit a letter of recommendation.
- At least one recommendation must come from a person who has not served together with the candidate on his or her local board of education.
- Letters should be limited to one page.
- One of the roles of a CASB Director is to learn about the challenges and successes faced by school boards in your region and to communicate that information to the CASB Directors. CASB Directors must also communicate with local school boards regarding CASB priorities and activities, and seek to involve local board members in some of those priorities. Describe several specific ways in which you might carry out these elements of the work of a CASB Director.
- CASB’s mission is to promote high quality education for all Colorado students through outstanding leadership by local school boards. This mission is the guiding light for all CASB advocacy at the state and federal levels, and in all the work CASB does with local school boards. Please identify specifically the ways in which you would, as a CASB Director, contribute to CASB’s work in pursuit of this mission.
- Describe the important elements of your vision for CASB as a leadership organization for local school boards, and the ways in which you, as a CASB Director, would further that vision.
NOTE: The letters of intent and answers to candidate questions will be published in a candidate booklet to be handed out to CASB delegates at the Delegate Assembly. These documents provide a glimpse of your experience to our members. Please type all entries and check spelling. CASB reserves the right edit entries for length.
CASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION
CASB Annual Business meeting, Saturday, December 5. Meeting is held from 11 a.m. — 1p.m.
NOTE: Candidates will have an opportunity to present a three-minute speech to delegates at the Annual Business Meeting.
CASB 2009 Regions