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The Democratic National Convention is currently taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Republican National Convention just wrapped in Tampa last week.  It’s a presidential election year and the majority of dialogue, consequently, revolves around the national political scene – from the implications of veep picks and endorsements to super PAC contributions and the influence of political ads. Certainly, inside the Beltway, organizations and entities are caught up in a fierce dialogue around  two competing visions for the country. Local contests, school board elections for instance, are just one casualty of the national hype, yet they are crucial to the vitality of our democracy.

We know that only a very small percent of registered voters typically participate in local school board elections.  Lack of information is a significant explanatory factor for low voter participation in school board elections. First, what do school boards do? Who can be elected? And when are elections? (You might not be able to vote for your school board at the same time as you vote for President.) It’s not unusual, according to a 2002 National School Boards Association (NSBA) report, for school boards to report a turnout of 20 percent or less and some numbers from the late 1990s put turnout at closer to 9% for off election years.

Fundamentally, school boards are part of an incredibly complex public educational system, and therefore, answers to the above questions – and others – vary by state. This also makes it difficult to be generic when talking about local state board elections and is a contributing factor to their very low profile in contrast to national elections. Luckily, there are many resources available to inform voters about school boards and elections. For example, NSBA offers a chart providing details on all elections state by state. Additionally, many local and state union affiliates provide more tailored information on local school board elections. And there are certain characteristics common to school boards: They are often nonpartisan, have open public meetings, and most members serve four year teams with staggered election terms.  In most states, to be elected, you must be a U.S citizen who is 18 years of age, a resident of the state and of the district for at least a year, a registered voter, and not a district employee.

Despite the low-profile nature of their elections, school boards are crucial to the vitality of our democracy. School board members, part of the largest elected body in the United States, set local policies around public education. Examples of such policies include, but are not limited to: maintaining a district’s organizational structure, hiring and evaluating (and sometimes firing) a district superintendent, monitoring and adjusting finances, and managing collective bargaining agreements. They set goals as they pertain to student achievement, as well as measure progress towards those outcomes. They decide boundaries and which schools may be closed. They set the policies that determine programs and courses, and what technology and texts are purchased.  

School board members are responsible for ensuring that a district’s public education system is serving the needs of all students in accordance with the state’s legal and constitutional framework. Given the enormous responsibility, it is important to understand the function, and also know who you are electing to the position. But it is of equal importance to know when school board elections are actually being held; unfortunately these elections are hardly guaranteed to coincide with national election days. In the United States, we know that voter turnout drops in mid-term election years and drops even more precipitously when the ballot only features school board members.,

Even citizens, who may be aware of the election, and the importance of a school board, could be concerned about their ability to assess a candidate or even if the current board as a whole is doing a good job. Again, the complex system can be intimidating; however, observing a school board meeting will inevitably provide insights into the function of a given board and enable the public to assess the decision-making process as well as the quality of the board’s decisions. And when it comes to electing a board member, NSBA recommends that citizens consider certain questions pertaining to a candidate’s vision, goals, capacity to inspire and understanding of the tasks at hand, as well as their approach to problem solving and decision making and how their background will help enhance the board’s make-up and represent the diversity of the community. School board members should be prepared to work towards maintaining excellence and increasing achievement and opportunity for all students.

Public education is vital to the health of communities, raising property values and attracting employers and strengthening the local economy. Electing thoughtful committed citizens to local boards is an investment in our future as a country; it’s a responsibility – whether as a voter or candidate – we as a society should take to heart.  

Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons.