Working for Children

 AASB's Guide
For School Board Candidates

The Local School Board

A local board of education has one of the most important – and challenging – responsibilities in our society: helping plan the education of the community’s children. Its decisions affect the lives of students and their parents, the livelihood of school system employees and the economic well-being of the community. 

Local school boards are a uniquely American institution. Their very existence is based on a belief in the wisdom of local lay control of schools. But board service also is an enormous responsibility, requiring much time, energy and expertise. If you are considering school board service, you must be willing to work diligently for the good of all students in your community.
Alabama school boards derive their authority directly from the state Legislature. Accordingly, they act as agents of the state. However, school boards’ primary objective is developing programs that meet local needs and goals.

Serving On The School Board

The school board’s foremost responsibility is establishing an educational vision for the school system. The board does this by developing sound educational policies that set a clear direction for the superintendent and staff.

School boards establish a vision for the community’s schools

This vision is critical to ensuring the school system progresses in a planned, effective way. It should reflect the community’s needs as well as a consensus of the board and superintendent about what students need in order to reach their potential.

School boards focus on policy making, planning and evaluation

Boards use a planning and decision-making process that allows parents, staff and all segments of the community to contribute meaningfully toward achieving the system’s goals.

School boards maintain an efficient, effective organizational structure

Boards employ the superintendent (except in systems with an elected superintendent); set policy for hiring other personnel; develop and adopt policies; adopt the annual budget; and set high instructional standards for staff and students.

School boards provide accountability

• They monitor and report student achievement to the public.
• They oversee development of programs to detect and correct deficiencies or problems within the system.
• They evaluate the superintendent and set clear goals for performance.
• They ensure the staff and board members have appropriate training opportunities to keep their skill level high.
• They keep the public informed about educational programs and progress.

School boards are strong advocates for their students and schools

• Boards build solid working relationships with their city councils, county commissions, state Board of Education members, and legislative and congressional delegations to ensure their students’ and school system’s best interests are considered when proposed regulations are debated.
• Boards work to keep area residents apprised of the schools’ and students’ needs so they will be knowledgeable about issues and prepared to vote on referenda or constitutional amendments that impact the system.

Boards And Superintendents

The board and superintendent have different, yet complementary, roles. Neither party can operate without the other.

In simplest terms, the board sets the policies that guide the school system, while the day-to-day operation of the system and administration of the policies are under the superintendent’s control.

The board’s specific duties include appointing the superintendent (except in systems where they are elected); adopting courses of study; setting promotion standards; setting school attendance zones; approving the school calendar; approving all contracts; establishing policies for acquiring, maintaining and disposing of property; and adopting the budget.

In most matters, the board cannot, by law, act without the superintendent’s recommendation.

What attributes are essential for successful school board members?

How board members perform their roles is as important as the roles themselves. Their relationships with each other, the superintendent and other staff, and the public have a profound impact on the board’s overall success and the level of support the system receives from the community. The most effective board members continually strive to work with each of these groups.

It also is crucial to remember that, individually, board members have no authority. Only when members sit together in an official meeting can the board take action, make decisions and guide the operation of the school system. Consequently, successful school board members:

Focus on serving all children

• They ensure every deliberation, decision and action reflects the best interests of every student they serve.
• They understand no child is more important than another.

Work well as a team

• They understand the board, rather than individual members, establishes policies and makes the decisions which guide the school system.
• They collaborate with staff, families, other agencies and businesses to build strong schools.
• They work to build public support and participation.
• They accept and support decisions by the majority of the board.

Realize demeanor has consequences and act accordingly

• They understand the way board members act individually and together impacts employee morale and public support for the system.
• They listen to colleagues, staff, parents and the public and treat them with respect.
• They display an integrity and professionalism that conveys the importance and seriousness of their work.
• They operate fairly and with sustained effort so long-term changes can be implemented.

Respect the diversity of perspectives on the board and in the community

• They respect fellow board members’ right to hold differing views.
• They refuse to be obligated to any interest group or organization.

Understand the board’s roles and responsibilities

• They understand their duties and their central, powerful role of providing educational leadership.
• They follow the chain of command and report problems to the superintendent for investigation.
  They know they must be accountable to the community and society.
• They abide by the limits the ethics law places on board members doing business with the school system and on their participation in decisions that affect their own family members who are employed by the system.

Strive to be knowledgeable about system policies and programs

• They develop a strong grasp of policies and convey them to the public.

Commit the time and energy to be effective

• They understand that being a board member requires them to commit a large amount of time to preparing for and attending meetings, taking phone calls, listening to constituents, studying issues and participating in training sessions.

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.

A Final Caution

One of the biggest surprises for new school board members is the complexity of the job and the tremendous time it requires. Board members – new and experienced – spend hours studying issues, meeting with those interested in the schools and learning about the myriad of regulations that affect school systems and boards in order to make informed decisions. It is important to weigh those demands before deciding to seek a board seat.