“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
When I mention attending a school board meeting, people often say, “You mean a ‘bored’ meeting, don’t you?” I must disagree with people who think local school board meetings are boring, irrelevant, or a waste of time. Locally elected school board members or “trustees” are non-partisan members of our community who ideally reflect the diversity of the Central Coast. According to the National School Boards Association, a nationwide organization, 44 percent of school trustees are female (more than the rate of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate), and nearly 25 percent are from underrepresented ethnic populations. Every school district in the country has an elected board of trustees. Almost 95,000 people make up the country’s largest group of elected officials. In addition to parents, teachers, staff, and administrators, school board members influence the quality of education provided within the communities they represent.
Typical school boards convene one to two times per month, are open to the public, and provide governance for the schools they represent. Trustees serve four-year terms with staggered terms to prevent large vacancies from coinciding. In most cases, a trustee must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the state they represent, live in their jurisdiction, be a registered voter, and be eligible under the state’s constitution to be elected to public office. Depending upon the school district’s size, most trustees are unpaid or receive a small stipend and possibly health insurance coverage. Board members work 10 to 40 hours monthly on school district governance matters. School districts are complex, multimillion-dollar organizations that require a governing board to oversee the needs of students and families and budgets and provide solid stewardship for the nation’s schools.
Highly functional school boards play a vital role in maintaining local districts by always keeping the best interests of students first. Highly organized school boards that understand the meaning of trustee empower the superintendent, district administrators, teachers, and staff to manage their schools. Five critical components of effective school boards are to set a vision, advance policy, demonstrate accountability, play a leadership role in the community, and forge consensus. The last component is often the most difficult to maintain in today’s media-drenched political atmosphere. The title of this article is “Motion, Second, Discussion,” not “My Way or the Highway.” An effective board is secure with differing votes and diverse opinions, ensuring that every voice is heard and considered in the decision-making process.
Experienced school board members know that true consensus is not about winners and losers. Motion, Second, Discussion asks all participants to consider and eventually affirm the key points:
- “Are all voices heard?”
- “Is the item understood?”
- “Is it clear that the group’s will has emerged around the proposal?”
When a motion is made, if another trustee seconds it, the board then discusses/listens/votes on it, and genuine local democracy emerges. I encourage everyone reading this article to thank our locally elected trustees, attend a school board meeting, and engage in the civic process. For additional information, please get in touch with your local school district or the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education. It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools.
