Managing a school requires dedication, organization and the right tools, especially when it comes to a Board of Governors. How can a volunteer board ensure they are effectively steering the institution while juggling their busy personal schedules?
At The Sterling Hall School, an elementary school for boys in Toronto, the answer lies in fostering strong governance and utilizing the right board technology.
In this interview, Sterling Hall’s Executive Assistant, Laura Pink, shares insights into how the school’s parent-led Board of Governors operates.
She also explains how board technology has made an impact since 2007 and the importance of personalized customer care from Aprio. Download this Case Study.
Q: Tell us about Sterling Hall and your role.
Laura Pink: Sterling Hall is an elementary school for boys in Toronto, Canada with an enrollment of just over 300 students. SHS provides a foundational educational experience for boys during the formative years of Kindergarten to Grade 8. Our community is engaged and supportive, fostering a sense of belonging that enriches each boy’s learning.
I have been in the Executive Assistant role for four years. I act as board liaison and handle responsibilities like agenda and work plan creation, scheduling and managing meetings, recording and drafting minutes, member relations, communications and materials management. I also support the school’s Foundation and manage its board-related duties.
Q: Tell us about Sterling Hall’s Board of Governors.
Laura Pink: We have 18 members and four committees. Currently, our Board of Governors consists of parents and former parents who are committed to the school’s long-term viability and continued high-quality success.
Typically, we meet 10 times per year, but this year we’re experimenting with fewer meetings. We have reduced the number by two and added a placeholder for a virtual meeting if required. Monthly committee meetings preserve a regular touchpoint with the school. We’ll conduct an engagement survey at the end of the school year to evaluate this change.
Q. Sterling Hall has been using Aprio since 2007. What have you found to be most valuable over the years?
Laura Pink: Aprio’s board portal not only reduces security risks associated with document sharing but also saves a significant amount of time on meeting preparation. Having centralized document storage helps me efficiently manage historical data and board materials. Additionally, the portal’s capability to distribute board materials and manage meeting schedules has proven to be very beneficial.
The customer care we receive is exceptional. Aprio’s client care team is responsive and genuinely listens to our needs, which is incredibly important to us. Any problems I encounter are resolved quickly by someone I know personally, often within 30 minutes. We have had great personalized service from the beginning of our relationship with Aprio, something I truly value.
Q: How have you been finding the new platform?
Laura Pink: One of the features I find very convenient is the link to virtual meetings, as it only takes one click to join. This is much easier than searching through emails!
The presenter mode is also clean and looks very professional. I use it confidently during meetings. Aprio consistently focuses on improving how the product works, which I appreciate.
Q: For other organizations considering board portal technology or reassessing what they use, what would you tell them about Aprio?
Laura Pink: Using Aprio is just good governance. It is reliable and meets all our needs. Aprio offers excellent customer service and is always improving and listening to its customers.
The platform is also very user-friendly. Our board members didn’t require much training. I took some training to improve my understanding of file organization because I was not the one who initially set up the system. I find the Aprio team very helpful with ongoing advice and guidance, and I still consult them for best practices.
See other board portal buying tools for education boards:
- Case Study: St. George’s School adopts Aprio board portal to support strong governance
- 5 benefits of corporate governance software
- Evaluating board portal vendors: Top 10 board portal feature comparisons
