6 Tips for Officer Transition Planning
Take these steps to ensure a smooth road ahead for incoming officers.
Organize your files
Lay the groundwork early by setting up good files to pass on to successors. Develop reporting structures and regular meetings for committee chairs, executive board members, and the principal.
Keep an eye out for effective volunteers
Begin observing and cultivating relationships with effective volunteers who may have the right skills to take on leadership roles.
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Talk about elections
Set aside time at a general meeting to discuss electing officers. Have each board member provide a brief job description.
Check in about the nomination process
Review nomination and voting procedures. If the desired structures aren’t in place, discuss making changes to the bylaws. (Are terms staggered? Is voting done by ballot or show of hands?)
Talk to potential new officers
Recruit potential leaders by inviting them for coffee. Discuss job duties and time commitments, but don’t forget the fun aspects of the job-being part of the school community and getting to know administrators, staff, and other parents.
Celebrate with incoming and outgoing officers
After the election, set up a lunch with all the outgoing and incoming officers. Turn over information and files. Remember to provide new officers with phone numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses of outgoing officers; the outgoing officers are a great resource.
