WabiSabi Board Executive Sessions

An executive session is a meeting (or part of a meeting) of the board without staff present. WabiSabi will hold a minimum of 2 executive sessions a year.

Because one of the board's chief responsibilities is to assess the performance of the agency and its executive director, boards often need to discuss sensitive issues without staff present. Some examples follow where the board needs to gain information and hold candid discussions amongst themselves:

• Annual meeting with the auditor;
• Evaluation of the executive director, and establishing the executive director's salary;
• Conflicts between two board members, or serious criticism of a board member by another;
• Investigation into concerns about the executive director, or report from a management consultant;
• Review of salary schedule, compensation policy, etc.

If needed, establish a type of "semi-executive session" during which the executive director is present, but no other staff. Such sessions may include:
• Discussions related to lawsuits, complaints, or grievances from staff or former staff;
• Discussions related to individual staff situations; and
• Discussing the evaluation of the executive director with the executive director.