VSBA is excited to launch the new VSBA School Board U.

School Board U is an area of the VSBA website filled with learning opportunities for school board members to explore important topics related to your service on the school board.

The topics are organized into six strands including:

• Governance and Leadership
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Student Achievement
• Hot Topics in Education
• Policy and Legal
• Advocacy

Each strand contains training sessions available on demand. Under each strand you will find a course number, title and description of the session. It will also be notated if this is a free session or if payment is required. If the session is free, you will see a link to register for the recording.

To access VSBA School Board U, please visit the secure section of the VSBA website. You will need a log in and password to access this section. School board members and division staff, please check your email to find the log in and password information.

Earn a Certificate in School Board U!

VSBA has created two Certificate programs available to school board members who complete certain courses of study.

Foundations of School Board Governance: This course is designed to provide a well-balanced overview of the role of a school board member and provide the basics on a broad variety of topics. We encourage you to complete this certification within the first 24 months of becoming a board member, or if you would like a refresher on Board Governance. This certificate contains six required courses and two electives of your choosing. Click here for additional information on the Foundations of School Board Governance Certificate.

Advanced Studies in School Board Governance: This course is designed to provide a deeper dive into the role of school board members. Courses are designed to build on topics previously discussed in the 100 level courses as well as new topics. This certificate should be completed after you have completed the Foundations Track. This certificate contains five required courses and two electives of your choosing. Click here for additional information on the Advanced Studies in School Board Governance Certificate.

All courses must be completed within 24 months to earn a Certificate.

For additional information about VSBA’s School Board U, please contact Samantha Bosserman, director of communications and board development at samantha@vsba.org of 1-800-446-8722 x3.