A Guide to Working with School Boards
School Board Basics
The people who constitute your school board are volunteers, unpaid and with varying degrees of ability and education. In some districts they are often there out of sheer frustration with the previous board. At some point members concluded the only way needed changes would be implemented was by running for office and being elected. In major metropolitan areas, political power is a strong consideration. In a few districts, widespread corruption as well as fraudulent use and theft of taxpayers money has been documented.
Running a school district is a very difficult endeavor. There is an enormous workload, extraordinary frustration, and seemingly endless meetings. Unfunded state and federal mandates, charter schools, poverty, late state budgets, and local governmental policies and politics all are juxtaposed with varying degrees of order and often very mixed educational results. School boards are concerned with all facets of the district, including the hiring and firing of personnel, school bus contracts, nutrition, health care, maintenance and construction, textbook review and purchases, sports, etc.. The simple reality is that, as unpaid volunteers, they neither have the expertise nor time to be well versed in all aspects of the school district's business.
Given the complexity of this position, it is necessary to understand your school board probably does not have the depth of knowledge needed to understand the issues you are concerned with, and it is your job to provide basic, honest and accurate information about your area of concern. This information will need to be given over and over again. Be patient and be persistent. Bring supporting documentation and provide copies to the district staff and board members. Allow for a normal learning curve, and understand that in many cases there will be a high level of fear and resistance.
Getting Started
Attending school board meetings frequently is like joining a small and private club. Meetings are often poorly conducted and, for the most part, attended by stakeholders and a few independently concerned citizens. A heavily attended meeting usually is indicative of a community problem, accented by concern and dissatisfaction.
For example, Albany School District School Board meetings are open to the public and have an allotted time period for public comment. This allows parents and members of the community to speak directly to our school board. Each individual is given approximately three minutes to speak about his or her concern. The school board listens without comment. Questions are almost never asked by the board and rarely answered by the board when asked by a speaker. There is a practical reason for this. If a dialogue was permitted, little of the business of the school board would be accomplished. Sometimes there are 10 or more speakers, so, even at 3 minutes a piece, a fair amount of time is used. Clearly, three minutes is limited but, nonetheless, very useful to provide a public forum for the presentation of several good ideas or one idea with supporting facts.
Finally, you need not be a great public speaker to successfully use three minutes to help educate your board or the public. Not all school boards have a time for public comment. In some areas school board meetings are broadcast on public T.V. Provide hard copy documentation of facts and articles along with e-mail copy. It is important to provide information to the union representative as well as the PTA. All groups need to be educated along with the school board.
Know Your Board
Get to know your board. Personal relationships are important, and understanding each school board member's needs and concerns can help facilitate reaching your objectives.
Clearly understand that your school board members need to know who you are and what your motivation is before you ask them to take an action or pass a resolution. This is particularly important when the resolution or action presented may be viewed as challenging the system and entails some risk on their part. Getting to know your board fully means a shared and respectful understanding of each other.
Realize also that board members are elected officials and subject to the forces common to all political endeavors. Please understand, too, the board has a great deal of responsibility and some very real power. They have a tremendous impact on the quality of education and local taxation.
Getting A Resolution Passed
If you wish to pass a resolution similar to the "Our Children's Future" resolution or if you wish to place the "Do You Know Enough To Enlist" brochure in your high school library or guidance office, there are a number of steps which will help lead to success. Be aware that some boards believe very strongly that the U.S. military offers economic opportunity for the poor (if not necessarily their own children for whom they may see a more promising future).
1. Demonstrate economic realities rather than argue morality. Explain in detail that the board will never have enough money for education if they don't address the disproportionate amount of federal resources being spent on the military at the federal level.
2. Learn why the military is not a viable economic opportunity for the poor or for the nation as a whole. Accurate information on the extensive levels of mental and physical disabilities incurred from Gulf War Syndrome, PTSD and combat, as well as subsequent rates of homelessness, alcoholism and suicide, will help present a truer picture of this alleged economic opportunity. Also consider whether military job skills are transferable to a civilian economy. Make it clear that there are few instances in which the G. I. Bill will actually pay a reasonable amount for college.
3. Talk to your board members, privately and individually. See how they stand. Ask them what would help them support your resolution or the placement of the brochure in the library. Some will give you insight into the process and direct you to key personnel or places for public presentations.
4. Bring in parents as speakers, and address your concerns respectfully and forcefully. There really is a sense of urgency. Our children are dying.
5. Demonstrate the incompleteness and the dishonesty of the military recruitment literature and the recruitment process.
6. Do outreach to the students of your school. Work with existing student groups.
7. Don't forget the PTA. Provide them the educational material that will support and help them understand your position.
8. Union representatives are important folks. Show the union how JROTC staff cross picket lines and, in fact, do not support the goals and rights of citizens, particularly unions.
9. Keep speaking at school board meetings, not once or twice but every month for as long as it takes. Make a real commitment and follow through. It will take time for your message to make an impact. Be patient and persistent.
10. Look for allies in the community. When people indicate they are supportive, ask them gently and directly if they are willing to work with you on these issues. A broad range of support is very helpful.
11. Make it clear that it is time we stop exploiting children for the purposes of violence. Studies have demonstrated that the military preys on the young because their cognitive abilities have not fully matured.
12. Devise strategies for greater impact. If you are pressing the school board to change a specific policy, for example, have at least five speakers at a meeting, each covering one aspect of the issue. If well rehearsed, your speakers can provide a powerfully coherent presentation and demonstrate significant support in the community at the same time.
13. After educating your board, write the needed resolution. Ask your board to consider the resolution, pass it if they agree, and send it to local elected representatives. Bring a copy of the LINK "Our Children's Future"LINK resolution, and tell your board this already has been passed by other responsible school boards and, thus, they will not be alone in taking this stand for children. Ask them to place the LINK"Do You know Enough to Enlist"LINK brochure in your high school library.
14. Don't be timid. Raise issues about the war, racism, class, violence, and sexism.
15. And, after a reasonable length of time if you aren't successful in getting the needed changes accomplished, find candidates who will make those changes and help them win election to the school board.
This brief report and the suggestions within it have worked in Albany, NY. They can work in your community also. Good luck.
If you have questions or suggestions, please contact John Amidon at jajaja1234@aol.com or 518-312-6442.
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