On Board Online • September 1, 2025
Sandra Ruffo
NYSSBA President
NYSSBA exists to support the work of school boards in a variety of ways, including helping boards work as a team more effectively. Sometimes that involves helping boards climb out of dysfunctional patterns. More often, though, it's about helping good boards get better.
NYSSBA's Leadership Development Department has staff and consultants (including a number of former board members and superintendents) who visit school districts to facilitate discussions to help the governance team (the board and the superintendent) improve their working relationship and/or improve the board's operational functioning in some way. Most often, this help takes the form of a Custom Board Retreat, in which NYSSBA provides a program tailored to your board's needs.
At the same time, there is great value in professional development programs that attract board members and administrators from different districts, because we can all learn from each other's experiences and perspectives.
In the western part of the state, the Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES has found a way to work with NYSSBA to improve governance in the CA BOCES region. Since 2022, the BOCES has brought school board members from different districts together for a day of shared learning and reflection.
The most recent one was held this summer. In attendance were board members from CA BOCES and five of the BOCES's 23 component districts: the Fillmore, Olean, Pioneer, Randolph Academy and Scio districts. Hinsdale sent its superintendent and board clerk.
The event centered on growth, connection and effective governance, according to CA BOCES Deputy Superintendent Tim Cox. "The day was thoughtfully designed to balance collective learning with individualized district planning."
The morning began with a dynamic presentation by Darci D'Ercole, NYSSBA's chief governance and leadership development officer, who spoke about best practices in school board governance. She also led board members in a fun exercise on communication.
Then the microphone passed to Roseann Bayne, assistant superintendent for instruction at CiTi BOCES. She discussed issues in intergenerational communication and the unique dynamics of having multiple generations - from Generation Alpha to the Boomers and beyond -at the board table.
A key design feature of the day was the built-in time for each school board to meet independently in the afternoon. These private sessions allowed individual boards to reflect, debrief and plan around their unique needs - blending the benefits of shared learning with meaningful, district-specific action.
The feedback the BOCES received was overwhelmingly positive. Many participants expressed how refreshing it was to step outside their local context, connect with fellow board members across the region and return home with new ideas and renewed energy. Several noted that it was the first time they'd had a chance to reflect and plan together in such a purposeful way.
I consider the Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES approach to be a model that others in the state could follow. Collective learning among school boards can foster trust and unity, and that can only lead to better outcomes for students.