| This study examined the relationship of New York State school board members' attitudes towards seven governance practices: (a) Professional Leadership, (b) Policy Orientation, (c) Structured Decision Making, (d) Fact-based Management, (e) Board Responsibility, (f) Financial Planning, and (g) Financial Management, and Conflict, Teamwork, and Board Effectiveness. This study also examined the relationship of board members' attitudes towards the components of Governance, Conflict, Teamwork, and Board Effectiveness and their demographic characteristics of years of board experience, years of education and age. The study was limited to members of boards of education who attended the October, 2003 New York State School Boards Convention in Rochester, New York. A survey to enable boards to analyze their practices was used.; The study identified school board members' attitudes towards Professional Leadership, Policy Orientation, Structured Decision Making, Fact-based Management, Board Responsibility, Financial Planning, Financial Management, Conflict, Teamwork and Board Effectiveness. The significant findings of the study indicated that school board members had a general level of agreement that their boards practiced Professional Leadership, Policy Orientation, and Financial Management. A correlation analysis determined that Board Effectiveness was most closely associated with Teamwork, Structured Decision Making, Board Responsibility, and Financial Management. The research indicated that boards can improve their effectiveness. |
