LEADERSHIP

TRAINING
For Special District Governing Boards

OVERVIEW


Leadership skills are more important than ever for members of local elected boards. Regardless of the type of special district, boards face many common challenges, including rising costs, added state and federal mandates, increased voter resistance to tax and fee increases, interpersonal conflicts, and ideological rifts in the community that spill into board politics.

For over a decade, PSU’s Center for Public Service has conducted a highly popular leadership “boot camp” for newly elected city council members across Oregon. Drawing on similar research on board effectiveness, we are now offering practical training that focuses on the specific needs of special district boards. Both veteran and newly-minted elected officials will benefit from the session, learning tips for increased board success and individual leadership effectiveness.

An important element of the session deals with the relationship between the board and the board’s chief executive officer. We highly encourage the CEO (executive director, superintendent, fire chief, or whatever title is bestowed by your district) to also participate in the session.

To make the training accessible across the state, we are offering the training in two modes: in-person on the Portland State University campus, and live remote via Zoom.
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REGISTRATION


Zoom Option:
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Time: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Zoom (online) details to be provided upon registration.

In-Person at PSU Option:
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2022
Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Portland State University, University Place, Willamette Ballroom, 310 SW Lincoln St, Portland, OR 97201


COST


In-Person at PSU:
• $360 per person
• $200 for every additional participant from the same jurisdiction
• Includes morning refreshments, lunch, and parking

Zoom:
• $300 per person
• $170 for every additional participant from the same jurisdiction
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GOAL


To help you to shine in your role as a local elected official. Topics covered in this half-day, intensive workshop include:
  • Opportunities and Constraints: Understanding your role as an elected board member;
  • Ground Rules: Forging effective working relationships with fellow board members; 
  • Your New Best Friend: Constructing a productive working relationship with your chief executive officer;
  • Lines that Matter: The key differences between policy and implementation;
  • Driving in Your Lane: Working in partnership with your staff;
  • Effective Delegation: How to work with other boards, task forces, and advisory groups;
  • Within the Fishbowl: Representing yourself and your board in public settings;
  • Effective meetings: Everyone’s responsibility, not just the presiding officer’s;
  • Keeping Faith with your Voters: Effectively promoting your own priorities;
  • Building Consensus: How you can – and when you shouldn’t try.

    The session combines brief presentations that draw on research and practical experience in board effectiveness with hands-on practice with scenarios that are based on real-life challenges faced by special district boards.
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FACILITATORS


Scott Lazenby, Ph.D.: Scott has had a forty-year career in city management, most recently serving as city manager of Lake Oswego and Sandy, Oregon. In that role, he has worked closely with a wide variety of special districts. Scott is past-president of the Oregon City/County Management Association, and has local government experience in Washington and Arizona. In addition to his PhD in Public Administration and Policy from PSU’s Hatfield School of Government 

Joe Hertzberg recently retired from a long career as a consultant specializing in strategy, leadership, and organization.  He co-founded Solid Ground Consulting and was formerly on the Political Science faculty at Yale University.  He helped many local governments set goals, make tough decisions, and figure out how to work together effectively.  Clients included governing boards of cities, school districts, counties, and special districts across Oregon. 
(503) 725-8261 | publicservice@pdx.edu