The Board requires Directors to participate in those trainings required by law. The Board also requires Directors to participate in new Director training provided by the Washington State School Directors’ Association and encourages Directors to participate in Board conferences and trainings that promote effective governance. Funding for training will be budgeted annually and prioritized for opportunities that best support current Board needs and governance goals.

Required Training for School Board Directors

Training Requirements Under State Law

Directors must complete training as required by Washington state and provide documentation of the completion to the Board Office for the following:

• Open Government: State law requires that each Director participate in training regarding: 1) the Open Public Meetings Act; 2) the Public Records Act; and 3) Public Records Retention, within 90 days of taking the oath of office following election or appointment. Incoming Directors can take the training before they are sworn in or assume their duties of office. After the initial trainings, Board Directors will participate in refresher trainings every four years that they hold office to remain current with new developments in open government law. 

• Cultural Competency, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: State law requires that each Director complete a governance training program provided by the Washington State School Directors’ Association and aligned with cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion standards once per term. 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.

• Tribal Consultation: State law requires that each Director take and certify completion of tribal consultation training and renew the training and certification every three years.

Additional Training Requirement Under This Policy

Directors newly elected or appointed to a first term on the Board must also complete training offered by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) tailored for new Directors. This training, commonly referred to as “Board Boot Camp,” will be required within the first year of Board service so long as the training is offered. Directors-elect are encouraged to complete this training in conjunction with attendance at the WSSDA Annual Conference.

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, Directors are members of the Washington State School Directors’ Association. The association establishes the rate of membership dues for the District at its annual meeting.

Superintendent Procedure:

Policy Cross References:

• 0030 – Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity
• 1005 – Responsibilities and Authority of the Board
• 1111 – Oath of Office
• 1112 – Board Member Orientation
• 1220 – Board Officers and Duties of Board Members
• 1225 – Legislative Program and Advocacy
• 1731 – Board Member Compensation, Expenses, and Insurance
• 1810 – Board Governance Goal-Setting and Self-Evaluation
• 4040 – Public Access to District Records

Previous Policies:

• B48.00 – Orientation of New Members
• 1805 – Open Government Trainings

Legal References:

• RCW 28A.300.108 Tribal consultation training and schedule.
• RCW 28A.345.020 Membership.
• RCW 28A.343.100 Governance training program.
• Title 40 RCW Public Documents, Records, and Publications.
• Chapter 40.14 RCW Preservation and Destruction of Public Records.
• Chapter 42.30 RCW Open Public Meetings Act.
• Chapter 42.56 RCW Public Records Act.
• RCW 42.56.150 Training—Local elected and statewide elected officials.

Management Resources:

• WSSDA Policy & Legal News, October 2021
• WSSDA Policy & Legal News, June 2021
• WSSDA Policy & Legal News, June 2014
• Open Government Training, Washington State Attorney General’s Office
• Strengthening Tribal Consultation Training for School Board Members and Superintendents, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Educational Equity Training, Washington State School Directors’ Association
• Board Boot Camp Training, Washington State School Directors’ Association

Last Board Review:

• July 2, 2025

Revisions:

• July 2, 2025
• April 2, 2025 (Administrative Update per Policy No. 1310)
• May 1, 2024 (Administrative Update per Policy No. 1310)
• December 1, 2021

Adopted by the Board:

• June 1, 2011