Training & Professional Development
In keeping with the need for continuing professional development to enhance
effective governance, the Board encourages Directors to participate in
appropriate Board conferences, workshops and conventions. Additionally,
Directors will obtain the trainings required by Washington state. Funds for Board
leadership training and professional development will be budgeted for on an
annual basis.

Required Training for School Board Directors

There are two areas of training required by Washington state:

• Open Government training, and
• Cultural Competency, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training

Open Government Training
The Board recognizes the value of meaningful, informed public participation in
district deliberations and the need to conduct its affairs in a transparent manner.
All Board members shall participate in trainings regarding: 1) the Open Public
Meetings Act; 2) the Public Records Act; and 3) Public Records Retention, within
ninety (90) days of taking the oath of office following election or appointment.
They can take the training before they are sworn in or assume their duties of
office. After the initial trainings, Board members will participate in refresher
trainings on these subjects every four years that they hold office in order to
remain current with new developments in open government law.

The documentation of the Board members’ completion of the required trainings
will be maintained by the Board Office and district archives.

Cultural Competency, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training
Beginning with the 2022 calendar year, each Director shall complete a
governance training program once per term of elected office. If the Director is
appointed or elected to a first term of office, the Director must complete

governance training requirements within two years of appointment or
certification of the election in which they were elected.

The governance training completed by Directors must be aligned with the
cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion standards for school director
governance developed and provided by the Washington State School Directors’
Association. Per Washington state law, the required training elements for both
first and subsequent school director terms are defined by the Washington State
School Directors’ Association.

Recommended Professional Development for School Directors
In addition to the required areas of training above, the district is committed to
ongoing professional development both for individual Directors and the Board as
whole. Each Director is a member of the Washington State School Directors’
Association, which provides professional development and resources at its annual
conference and through year-round leadership development services for
individual Directors and Boards.

Participation in Washington State School Directors’ Association
As required by law, the Directors are members of the Washington State School
Directors’ Association. The association establishes the rate of membership dues
at its annual meeting.