School Board

My three years on the school board of a 2A school district were filled with stress, rewards, enlightenment, and confusion. A school board is comprised of seven elected members from the community. Each board member is voted on through the democratic election process and, in the case of a small district, each has a dual responsibility to voters and to the district. It is assumed that the responsibility rarely if ever becomes diametrically opposed.

The school board member has a central obligation to monitor the activities of the superintendant and therefore acts as the ruling body over the superintendent who governs the district. The superintendent in many cases uses the board for major educational decisions, fiscal decisions, personnel approval, and policy making. A succesful board operates as a team to provide general guidance for the superintendant and for the district. The day to day management of the district is the responsibility of the superintendent who manages the principals who in turn govern the faculty and staff.

It is not role of the school board to provide direct oversight in the day to day management of the district. This curbs the inevitable complaining of parents and faculty to school board members. The wise member refers complaints to the proper channels which generally is the principal in charge of the campus.

Although most school board members have an agenda of some kind, the most objective and fair members tend to vote with equity and commitment to the educational process without selfish regard of their own personal interests. In my case, due to having a special learner in the family and in the district, it was often difficult not to emphasize the need for increased allocation of special education resources. In addition, my years and training as a musician encouraged me to keep an eye out for fair and impartial treatment of the music curriculum in the district.

Yet, ultimately, by studying state requirements, averages, and providing general guidance to meet district goals, voting was usually clear cut and supportive of the superintendant or principals. At the same time, I believe as a lifetime supporter of he arts, that I had an obligation to remind other board members that the arts play a vital role in the humanizing of society and therefore are integral to the curriculum.

I believe it is of supreme value if you are elected by the public to uphold the highest standards of education and to ensure a well-rounded, balanced curriculum is being taught to all the students. Although the state has made some curriculum mandates that are difficult, it is still within the realm of possibility to offer music and art to all grade levels as well as emphasizing all the academic disciplines.

While serving on the board, I endeavored to provide an objective yet balanced look at the curriculum and to help the superintendent in his efforts of management and oversight when needed. I enjoyed my brief time and it has definitely whet my appetite for further political action.