Download “On Boards”
Government for Tomorrow is releasing the resource informational package called “On Boards.” It is available as a downloadable “.zip” file, which converts to a simple folder that should be accessible through any digital device. If there are any issues with formatting, please contact govfortomorrow@gmail.com
If you download this resource, you must read the “***MUST READ***” PDF at the beginning of the package. The PDF outlines important goals, disclaimers, and general direction of our training. Below, we’ve copied choice excerpts along with additional information, but exclusively reading the content on this website is not a sufficient replacement of the PDF.
Everything here is offered as a recommendation, not a requirement. You are welcome to take what’s useful, adapt what makes sense, and disregard what doesn’t fit your circumstances.
This resource was designed to help cities and schools create student positions by providing the necessary information to confidently pursue the establishment of student positions, better secure existing roles, and expand understanding of youth involvement all together.
This resource reflects what we’ve found to be the most effective ways to make these positions meaningful and successful, as well as additional information we believe complete this informational package. This can build the confidence for further proliferation of student positions to unchartered boards, reinforce existing positions, and enrich the literature behind these relative novelties. This package is designated “On Boards,” meaning this informational resource focuses on student development following a student’s appointment to a local government board. This content could be used by students, municipal administrators, or any other interested and appropriate parties.
PURPOSE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Table of Contents can be found within the resource package, too.
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Defines student positions on local government boards, explaining their variable nature across communities. Covers procedural processes for creation, responsibilities, voting vs. nonvoting status, and the dynamic nature of these groundbreaking roles.
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Explores formal and informal obligations of student board members. Emphasizes following and exuding board ethics, acting as a beacon for student voices, and working against youthful prejudices to maximize effectiveness and credibility.
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Guides students through their inaugural board meeting experience. Covers appropriate dress code, the importance of active listening and note-taking, being comfortable with initial confusion, and treating adult board members as equals rather than authority figures.
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Provides guidelines for professional communication with board members, the public, and the press. Recommends leading with titles and last names for board members, maintaining polite professionalism with the public, and treating media interviews as thoughtful conversations with appropriate guardrails.
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Details methods for students to gather broader student consensus beyond their individual perspectives. Covers Google Forms as the primary tool, classroom Socratic seminars, social media as a last resort, and strategies for avoiding biases like guiding language, information omission, and sampling bias.
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Introduces parliamentary procedures governing most local government boards. Recommends learning through immersive observation rather than technical memorization, focusing on three fundamentals: discussion times, motions, and votes. Encourages consulting resources when procedures seem misapplied.
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Presents the "Many Conversations Method" as the core public speaking approach—treating board comments as polite conversations rather than performances. Includes advanced techniques like selective memorization for high-stakes moments, with practical memorization tools for maintaining natural flow.
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Identifies valuable resources for students facing complex issues. Discusses cautious AI use (limited to writing checks), local libraries for research and networking, board administrators as procedural guides, and connecting with fellow student board members for peer support.
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Highlights benefits students gain from board service: lifelong civic engagement habits, understanding of municipal workings, networking opportunities with community stakeholders, press visibility, and professional skills development in public speaking, consensus-building, and policy analysis.
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Explores career pathways related to local government work. Covers board director positions, city/community managers, mayors, and even presidency. Details education requirements, responsibilities, and how board experience provides foundational skills for various public service careers.
DOWNLOAD NOW
Click here to download a “.zip” file containing our “On Boards” Resource Training.