The Columbia School Board met this morning for a scheduled team-building retreat. The meeting’s primary focus was to improve communication both among the board members and between the board and the district.

The team-building session, which was lead by Sarah Reed, president of Communication Center, Inc., launched discussion and awareness of communication.

Reed began the session by asking each board member to state what he or she hopes for in the upcoming school year.

Tom Rose said he hopes “for an improved sense of trust in the district.”

Karla DeSpain said she hopes for a “clear vision” among teachers, board members, parents and administration.

Rosie Tippin said she hopes the board will “be able to select a body that will lead (them)” and is a fit for the district.

Michelle Gadbois, who is the board president, said there is “trust-building to do” and he board needs to convey that it has a solid foundation.

Board member Jan Mees hopes there will be forward progress in the upcoming year.

Ines Segert hopes for discussion as well as an “open frankness.”

Steve Calloway, board vice president, said that he “would hope for us to arrive at a process that is more of a dialogue instead of a monologue.”

As part of the session, the board members discussed different perceptions of situations and how to best approach those, in terms of communicating.

Reed said the norm in our culture to formulate a response as the other party is speaking, and she encouraged the board members to concentrate on listening.

Gadbois said that is one thing she will do differently after having attended this session.

The board meets again Tuesday evening in closed session, presumably to talk about who will lead the district on an interim basis. Phyllis Chase announced her retirement last week.