School Board members, Garcia take psyche tests

Terry Webster

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 10:58 a.m.

Clark County School Board members and Superintendent Carlos Garcia examined each other's personality traits Wednesday during a review of a psychological test used to explain adult behavior.

Representatives from the Aspen Group International, a Highlands Ranch, Colo., consulting firm, posted results of the school officials' Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test on a chart and then interpreted them.

They also determined whether board members and Garcia were introverts or extroverts, divided them into two groups and discussed what they would like to know about each other.

Under the Nevada open meeting law, the discussion took place in open session at a retreat at the Whitney Library on East Tropicana Avenue.

The Aspen Group International works in concert with the Policy Governance model, a guideline that tells boards how to conduct business. The School Board has already held meetings on Policy Governance and is now fine-tuning how the model, designed by John and Miriam Carver of Atlanta, will work in the district.

Board member Shirley Barber said it was her understanding that the Aspen Group was brought in to help the board members improve working relationships with each other.

Linda Dawson, president of the Aspen Group, said the program helps board members increase their own self-awareness and understand how others learn and make decisions.

"You decide how accurate the report is for you," she added, referring to the personality profiles.

On its website, the Aspen Group identifies four key areas that limit board performance: A lack of understanding in expectations, confusion over whether tasks are board or staff responsibilities, a tendency to focus on themselves and confusion over whether the board should be a watchdog or visionary.

Board members began the session by discussing why they ran for the School Board and what obstacles have prevented them from reaching their goals.