The Role of School Boards
Reprinted from the Center for Public Education
The local school board is a critical public link to public schools. Whether elected or appointed, school board members serve their communities in several important ways.
• First and foremost school boards look out for students. Education is not a line item on the school board’s agenda—it is the only item.
• When making decisions about school programs, school boards incorporate their community’s view of what students should know and be able to do.
• School boards are accessible to the public and accountable for the performance of their schools.
• School boards are the education watchdog for their communities, ensuring that students get the best education for the tax dollars spent.
We provide on these pages information that builds public understanding about the roles and responsibilities of school boards. It also provides materials and links to information identifying qualities of effective school boards that are successful where it counts—the achievement of their students.
________________________________________
What makes an effective school board?
Iowa Lighthouse Project. A multi-year, multi-state research initiative of the Iowa Association of School Boards that identifies the characteristics of effective school boards.
________________________________________
The Key Work of School Boards. A framework developed by the National School Boards Association identifies eight essential key action areas that focus and guide schools boards in their efforts to improve student achievement.
________________________________________
Five Characteristics of an Effective School Board. Today, the relevance of school boards is dependent on doing what matters. This article outlines five characteristics identified by a panel of educators and corroborated by experience.
________________________________________
For more reading:
School Boards and the Power of the Public (PDF). This essay previously appeared in John I. Goodlad, Roger Soder, and Bonnie McDaniel, eds., Education and the Making of a Democratic People. Written by NSBA's Mike Resnick and Anne Bryant, the essay explores how school boards serve as the cornerstone for civic engagement and the success of public education. Education and the Making of a Democratic People can be purchased through Paradigm Publishers at www.paradigmpublishers.com.
________________________________________
School Boards at the Dawn of the 21st Century (PDF). Results from a 2002 national survey of U.S. school board members by Frederick Hess, School of Education and Department of Government, University of Virginia.
________________________________________
Local School Boards: Reflections of American Democracy. An essay by NSBA lobbyist and former school board member, Reginald Felton.
Final Words
Perhaps rather than to attack local school boards, such efforts should be directed at raising the level of engagement of all local residents regarding public school challenges. After all, democracy demands the full participation of its citizens. When that participation declines, all of our democratic principles become challenged – not just local school boards. From the NSBA
The essay by Reginald Felton is very interesting and would appear by some that its place on this website is ironic as the current initiative to change the BOE terms may be seen as "attacking" them under the guise of a sound initiative. What are your thoughts on dispelling this admin. and what are the plans to gain bipartisan support amongst the WDTC and WRTC, as a means of engaging the community, who's endorsed and elected candidates would subsequently face unseating under the new ordinance?
While I would suppose that most people would agree that a 4 year term is more appropriate and certainly has its advantages in attracting future candidates, in the short term, the personal process and the political implications of such a change may be viewed as the motivating factor and limit the support for this initiative. Would you agree and how would you convince the community that the motivating intentions for such a change are in the town's best interest, in the long term?
The Felton essay is interesting. It was not my intent to put up a strictly dogmatic argument in favor of the initiative, counter arguments certainly exist; having said that, the big picture in the opinion of many is clear. As this is being done entirely openly and will be settled by a machine vote, people should view this as nothing more than democracy in action. Notwithstanding the Felton essay, does our current board measure up to the other information provided?
While some may view this as a tactical move to get rid of the current board, as we both know, attendance at BOE meetings is pathetic at best. For those who have attended, or watched the video tape on Truth or the Coalition site, they would see that the effectiveness of this Board is suspect at the very least, both in terms of serving the children and the Board’s relationship with other boards, the citizenry, the Academy, etc. and perhaps that’s OK with them as is their right to feel that way.
Current members who feel strongly that this Board is on the right track should run again and I hope they do- they should have nothing to fear but their records and would end up with more time than they have now if successful. It is certainly everyone’s right to support them in that candidacy. Perhaps then we can get answers to the myriad questions that remain unanswered by this Board, during their respective campaigns.
Formal inquiry was made to both the RTC and DTC as to their positions. I have yet to receive formal response from either entity; however, privately, many members of both parties are expressing support.
Lastly, it is obvious to any of us who have tried to recruit candidates for BOE (on both sides of the aisle), that the length of the current term is a deal breaker for many. This can be verified by anyone involved in either political party. If the initiative is successful, I expect, though cannot guarantee, that more will be engaged to serve. At the very least the level of awareness of the issues will be elevated, which is clearly in the town’s long term interest as well as that of the children.
So far, there is solid support for this initiative from two current board members who were elected by very wide margins in the last election and I believe there will be a third- that has to mean something…