4.12 Governance Investment

The Board will consciously invest in its ability to govern competently and wisely.

Accordingly:

1. Board skills, methods, and supports will be sufficient to assure governing with excellence.
2. Training and retraining will be used appropriately to orient new members and to maintain and increase existing Board Member skills and knowledge.
   
   1. Outside monitoring assistance, including fiscal audit, will be arranged as needed so that the Board can exercise confident control over organizational performance.
   2. Outreach mechanisms will be used as needed to ensure the Board understands community viewpoints and values.
   3. Costs will be prudently incurred, but sufficient to ensure the development and maintenance of superior governance. Budgeting considerations will include:
      
      1. Board training, including publications and workshops.
      2. Board Member travel to professional meetings and conferences directly related to the Board’s role and responsibilities.  These professional meetings and conferences should be targeted to an audience of board members or routinely attended by board members. Exceptions may be granted by the Board President when a rationale has been provided to demonstrate the value to the institution. Such travel will be approved in advance by the Board President.  When the Board President plans to travel, such requests will be approved in advance by the Board Secretary.  Should a travel request be denied, the Member may appeal the decision to the full Board.
      3. Board Members will be reimbursed at the same rates as district employees for mileage incurred for authorized travel or for necessary expenses incurred while on district business at conferences or professional meetings. Authorized travel includes mileage reimbursement for attending meetings or events at the District Office or at the colleges and meetings and events directly related to the Board's role and responsibilities at non-district locations. Mileage reimbursement will not be allowed for attendance at partisan political meetings/events or for strictly social activities. Exceptions may be granted by the Board President when a rationale has been provided to demonstrate the value to the institution. Mileage reimbursement and travel reimbursement will be approved by the Board President, or in the case of the Board President, by the Board Secretary.  The Board President may establish reasonable limits on the amount of mileage reimbursement Members may receive.
      4. Governing Board Members, their spouses, and dependent children may participate in the district’s health, accident life, and disability insurance plans if they pay the full amount of the premium(s). Board Members are subject to the same guidelines and parameters as other insurance eligible employees.
      5. Board Members who participate in the above plans may continue to participate after leaving the Board if the member served at least six consecutive years on the Board, and the Board Member pays the full premium.
         
         1. The surviving spouse and/or dependent child of a Board Member or former Board Members may continue to participate in the plan if they were covered under the Board Member’s plan, and they pay the full premium.
         2. It is strictly prohibited for the district to expend any district funds to subsidize the participation of any Board Member, spouse, or dependent in this program.
      6. Audit and other third-party monitoring of organizational performance.
      7. Surveys, focus groups, and opinion analyses.
      8. Board-hosted ownership linkage/outreach events.
      9. Board meeting and retreat costs (e.g., facilities, logistics, meals during meetings, etc.)