Time to step into school board politics

‘We have a responsibility to make sure that those who get elected to school boards understand their roles and responsibilities.’

“They never listen to us.”
“They really don’t understand the challenges we face.”
“They’re trying to micro-manage us.”
“They don’t respect the parents or the employees of this district.”
“Why can’t they give us a raise when we have so much in balances?”

At one time or another, we’ve all heard these comments about school boards. School board members are, for the most part, well-intentioned community members who are running for a volunteer position that will require a great deal of time and energy.

Sometimes the school board candidate has no idea of the challenges and obstacles he or she will face if elected.

Sometimes the candidate is running to “fix” a problem at his or her child’s school—and becomes a “single-issue” board member if elected.

Sometimes the candidate thinks that he or she will be able to micro-manage the school district’s administration or the daily running of the schools.

School board members are in powerful community positions—they make the decisions that affect school employees and students on a daily basis. Consequently, those who win school board elections should be community members who realize the role that board members assume in ensuring that every child has the basic right to a great public school. Effective school board members understand the important role that lobbying plays in protecting our schools. Effective school board members understand their role in supporting school staff and taking the time to understand the issues facing those working in the schools every day. Effective school board members understand that a safe school and supportive environment need to be in place for the staff to be able to facilitate student learning.

So what difference does that make to us as association members? We have a responsibility to make sure that those who get elected to school boards understand their roles and responsibilities. We need to encourage those parents and community members who are supporters of public education to run for election, and once they’ve decided to run, we need to make sure that our local associations have a process to screen, recommend and support those candidates.

Our members understand that the job of a school board member is as important as the job of mayor or legislator. Your local needs your help now to help identify, elect and then stay in touch with your school board members. Those of us in our schools every day have a perspective that school board members need to hear. No matter what our job—from the bus barn to the nurse’s office, from the janitor’s closet to the classroom—we know our students and what we need to ensure that our schools have a safe and effective learning environment. It’s up to us to make sure that those who make the day-to-day decisions affecting our schools and classrooms are connected to our real world.

At this critical time following the Supreme Court decision, we play an important role in making sure that our school board members understand the promise that collective bargaining now brings to our public school environment: the promise of greater collaboration among the adults in the building, the promise of staff and parents having a voice in decisions that impact students and staff, and the promise of a great public school for every child.

Thanks for all you do for students every day—and thanks for all of the work we’ve yet to accomplish in the upcoming school board elections!

by Chris Guinther
MNEA president

sb, winter 07

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Chris Guinther
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