Coherent
Governance

Budgeting innovation for financial stability and responsibility

CEE recognizes that the effectiveness of any organization is rooted in effective leadership that starts with the organization’s board of directors and its relationship to their Superintendent. Coherent Governance®, a model for effective board governance emphasizing the clarity of roles and responsibilities between boards and Superintendents, is a proven, user-friendly system that avoids board immersion in daily operations and enables boards to lead without barriers inadvertently created by its own governance model. The model consists of four interrelated policy types: (1) Governance Culture policies establish the board's overall culture and commitments. (2) Board/Superintendent Relations policies define the Superintendent’s job description, authority delegation, and accountability. (3) Operational Expectations policies guide the board's values on operational functions, aiming to guide decisions without board micromanagement. (4) Results policies define expected outcomes, focusing on organizational performance towards client benefits.

Our Approach:

  • Comprehensive policy approach delineating board and Superintendent responsibilities

  • A values-based system that holds the board and Superintendent roles together

  • Board focus is on governance culture, priorities and policy process for the organization

  • Superintendent focus is on achieving operational expectations set by the board

  • Provides a catalyst for good governance benefiting staff, students and community

  • Coherent Governance® proactively prevents board focus on day-to-day activities and Superintendent from setting policy

Benefits:

  • Prevents role confusion between board and Superintendent

  • Integrates policy-setting and operational aspects of good governance

  • Supports board role clarity and effectiveness through changes in membership

  • Clearly sets expectations for Superintendent without prescribing specific means

  • Presents a unified approach to community-based board leadership

  • Establishes checks and balances approach to governance for systemic effectiveness