Becoming A School Board Member

How are school board members chosen?

There are several differences in state laws governing city and county school boards. For example, county school boards are elected, but most city school boards are appointed by their city council or commission.

Elected boards generally run for their seats during regular countywide elections; city boards generally are appointed in April.

How long are board members’ terms?

County boards generally are elected for six-year terms, while city board members usually serve five-year terms.

There are no statewide laws setting term limits for school boards.

In the event of a vacancy on a county board, the remaining members may select someone to fill the unexpired term. When a vacancy occurs on an appointed city board, the appointing body names the replacement.

What are the qualifications to serve on a school board?

State law requires that county school board members be “of good moral character, with at least a fair elementary school education, of good standing in their respective communities and known for their honesty, business ability, public spirit and interest in the good of public education.”

The only requirements spelled out in the law for city school board members are that they reside in the city and that they be selected on the basis of their fitness and character.

How do you become a candidate?

For appointed boards, interested citizens can “throw their hat in the ring” simply by informing the appointing body of their interest in serving.

For elected school boards, there are a number of campaign laws which must be met. These laws cover such issues as deadlines for getting on the ballot, requirements for filing certain disclosure forms and limitations on fund raising.

For detailed information on elections laws, contact the Alabama Secretary of State’s office or your local probate judge’s office.

Advice To School Board Candidates

While your desire to help improve your schools is commendable, it is in your best interest to be exceedingly careful about campaign promises and statements – or they can have an unintended impact if you are selected for the board.

One of the most common mistakes candidates make is pledging to take an action once selected, when in reality that action is beyond the board’s authority.

It also is common for new school board members to discover that such promises compromise their ability to participate when the issue comes to a vote. Pledging to dismiss a principal, for example, could require you to disqualify yourself from participating in the decision to terminate him or her in order to prevent a court battle over the decision. Worse, your inability to participate could change the outcome.

Because of the complexity of the regulations governing school board action, candidates are strongly cautioned to describe their goals for the school system in broad terms.