In preparation for a consultation, an ISM Consultant often reviews the school’s Board bylaws. More and more, we are seeing guidelines about what constitutes a conflict of interest. One scenario that is seldom addressed, however, is when a Board member is also the spouse of a school employee. Boards frequently discuss confidential matters—matters that should not be talked about outside the Boardroom, even with a spouse. When a Trustee shares this type of information, the understanding (stated or implied) is that the employee-spouse will maintain permanent confidentiality. That expectation is inherently unfair. In addition, the spouse was not personally present to hear the details of the discussion and has only a second-hand version of what occurred. Or perhaps the spouse-employee has a confrontation with the Head (or a colleague has one) and shares something about the Head’s action that is not appropriate for the Trustee-spouse to hear. Heads often make decisions that are unpopular with individuals at the school. These decisions are made in the course of implementing policy or completing goals in the strategic plan. (Certainly, if the Head’s act was egregious, the Board needs to know about it. The information path, however, should be a written and signed letter to either the Board President or the Chair of the Head Support and Evaluation Committee.)