Board Governance
Understanding Board Governance
Effective governance is built on a shared understanding of purpose, roles, responsibilities, and how the Board of Trustees and Superintendent work together as Redwood City School District's (RCSD) governance team.
RCSD's Governance Handbook documents the agreements and practices that guide this work. Reviewed annually by the governance team, the handbook establishes expectations for effective leadership, decision-making, communication, Board meetings, and the working relationship between the Board and Superintendent.
Board Governance at a Glance
Unity of Purpose
Effective governance begins with a shared commitment to RCSD's vision, mission, and values, keeping students and their success at the center of the district's work.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Board governs the school district and represents the community, while the Superintendent provides professional leadership and manages the district's day-to-day operations. Together, they form RCSD's governance leadership team.
Governance Standards
Board members commit to responsible, ethical, respectful, and student-focused governance. The Board works collectively, respects the distinction between governance and management, and creates opportunities for diverse community perspectives to inform its deliberations.
Meeting Norms
The governance team has established norms for productive meetings, including preparation, open and honest communication, respectful consideration of different perspectives, attentive listening, constructive feedback, and a continued focus on district goals and student achievement.
Governance Team Protocols
The Board and Superintendent use agreed-upon protocols to guide how they work together. These address areas such as differing viewpoints, difficult topics, requests for information, Board communication, complaints, meeting preparation, and the use of Board meetings as strategic leadership tools.
2026–27 Governance Handbook
The complete Governance Handbook provides additional detail about the standards, norms, responsibilities, and protocols adopted by the RCSD governance team.