Despite the innate strength of America’s system of public school governance, it is a system that doesn’t automatically run smoothly. Effective school board governance requires a number of skills and commitments by those who serve. Without those skills and commitments, a board’s focus often shifts away from where it should be – on student achievement.
What should voters look for as they assess the qualifications of school board candidates? These are some of the things I think are important:
Strong interpersonal skills. If I could choose only one set of skills for an effective school board member, it would be solid interpersonal skills, including communication and listening skills, trustworthiness, honesty, confidentiality, consistency and other traits that allow relationships to blossom. A board member may have all the knowledge in the world, but without these skills, he or she will not govern well.
Concern for the achievement of all students, not for a special interest or a narrow philosophy. Let’s face it: most of us have a favorite concern about schools. It may be “the basics,” special education, sports, fine arts or something else. And that’s okay. A passionate voice on the board for a particular program can be a real strength.
However, an elected school board member must also have a broad view of the district. Every program offered by the district must add value to student achievement, or it should not be offered. Good school board members try to help build them all to their highest level of quality.
Sometimes individuals run for the school board to represent a particular political or philosophical point of view. School board elections are non-partisan, but groups or organizations with a political agenda are often active in board elections.
Of course, this is okay, and it may even be good politics. In fact, such organizations, be they teacher unions or pro-voucher groups, should be applauded for their interest. Yet, the best school board members are not so tied to a “cause” that they cannot fairly serve the entire school district. Voters should learn as much about school board candidates as possible in order to understand the philosophies of the people they elect.
Willingness to learn. State law requires very few qualifications for service as a school board member. Some individuals are elected with more immediate knowledge and skills than others. But in my experience, no member, regardless of occupation, intelligence or personal skills, knows all he or she needs to know when elected. Those school board members who approach their jobs with a commitment to filling those knowledge and skill gaps more effectively serve their school district and community.
Commitment to teamwork. School board members as individuals have little power. But, by working well together as a body, with the superintendent and with other groups who are shaping public schools, virtually anything is possible for a school board as a whole.
Am I saying that every vote should be unanimous or that the board/superintendent relationship should always be perfect? No. Board members should work toward a common vision and be able to disagree agreeably without creating lasting divisions that will assure the loss of public confidence.
Commitment to engaging the community. As any current school board member will tell you, board service is much broader, much more challenging – and even much more rewarding – than solving a single problem. School board service involves balancing a complex set of community values that affect education. This requires listening, collaboration, and give-and-take within the school district and within the community as a whole.
Time. Serving on a local school board requires lots of it. No longer is it reasonable to expect board service to take one night a month. Public education has become far too complex, and community expectations far too great, for the leisurely pace of yesteryear. Today’s board members say they can easily spend 45 hours per month staying abreast of issues, attending board meetings, work sessions and community meetings, not to mention phone calls, e-mails and other contacts.
Our system of public school governance works best when able and committed people step forward and accept the awesome responsibility of serving on the school board. Yet, voters also have obligations when it comes to public education – examine the qualifications of your school board candidates, decide who will best serve your community and vote accordingly.
Mike Freeman is president of the Colorado Association of School Boards and a member of the Highland School Board in Ault.
