Describes a California School Boards Association project to describe each school board function and develop a comprehensive board training curriculum based on these descriptions. Effective board members clearly understand their duties and the importance of teamwork, support district programs and staff, respect the superintendent's role, establish…

After 4 years of debate, the National Collegiate Athletic Association agreed in January 2000 to accept high-school principals' descriptions of their courses, rather than to continue judging courses through the clearinghouse. Persistence, a sense of humor, and sympathetic journalists aided the protest effort. (MLH)