Selection Process

Each CSBA region will have a Regional Judge panel identify the top application from the respective region (for a maximum of 21 nominations statewide).
Regional nominations (for a maximum of 21) will be submitted to CSBA for a second round of scoring, to be judged by a confidential Statewide Award Panel which will select the Governance Team of the Year.
Site validator will visit the top Governance Team to view a Board Meeting. Site validator will verify that the information submitted in the application is consistent with what is being practiced.
Top scoring regional winner will be recognized at the regional level.
The Governance Team of the Year will be notified by CSBA of the award and will receive the Golden Gavel and be inducted into the Golden Gavel Hall of Fame.
CSBA reserves the right to bypass the regional judging and proceed straight to state-wide judging process based on the number of applications received.

Recognition:

The Governance Team of the Year will be recognized and presented with an award at CSBA‘s Annual Education Conference (AEC), at a General Session by the former Governance Team of the Year winner and/or their designee from the previous year and the Vice President.
The Governance Team of the Year will be featured in the CSBA California Schools magazine, the monthly California School News publication, on the CSBA website and social media.
Members of the Governance Team of the Year may be asked to participate in speaking engagements throughout the state at the request of the Regional Directors or CSBA.
Golden Gavel Hall of Fame inductees are eligible to score nomination materials at the state-wide level for one year during the award cycle immediately following their induction into the Golden Gavel Hall of Fame.