Frequently Asked Questions – School Board Elections

The election process for school board varies depending on local regulations. Typically, interested individuals must file candidacy paperwork within a specified period and meet any eligibility requirements. This is followed by a campaign period. Finally, voters in the district cast their ballots in an election, either through a general election or a specific school board election.

Here is a general outline of the process for getting elected to a school board:

Step 1: Understanding the Role

Your first task is to understand the responsibilities of a school board member in your particular district. You’ll be setting policies, overseeing the district’s budget, and making crucial decisions that affect the future of education in your community.

A board member holds a position of governance, not management. This means you’re there to set the course of local education, not steer the ship on a daily basis.

Step 2: Eligibility Check

Check that you meet the school board member qualifications. This typically includes being a resident of the district, a registered voter, and over a certain age (typically 21 or older). These qualifications ensure that board members have a vested interest in the community and the outcomes of their decisions.

Step 3: Filing Your Candidacy

File your candidacy by submitting the necessary paperwork within the designated filing period. This is your formal declaration that you’re entering the race, and it’s essential to adhere to the school board election laws and deadlines, which can include petitions or filing fees.

Step 4: Campaigning and Swaying Voters

Campaigning is your opportunity to communicate your vision and goals to the electorate. You’ll need to articulate your platform, discuss the issues that matter to voters, and demonstrate how your background and expertise make you the best candidate for the job.

• Develop a school board campaign strategy that includes outreach through various channels such as social media, community events, and local media.
• Engage with the community by attending school board meetings, local events, and forums where you can meet voters and discuss your educational platform.

It is during this stage that you will connect with voters, attend events, and perhaps even debate with other candidates.

Step 5: Understanding the Constituency

Understand the needs and priorities of your constituents, including parents, teachers, and students. This will involve listening to their concerns, recognizing the challenges within the district, and developing a platform that addresses these issues.

Step 6: Fundraising

Raise funds to support your campaign. Most local candidates use personal savings, contributions from friends and supporters, and fundraising events. Fundraising is used for promotional materials, event hosting, and other campaign-related expenses.

Step 7: Getting Out the Vote

As Election Day nears, focus on school board election turnout strategies. This means ensuring that your supporters are registered to vote and know when and where to cast their ballots. It’s a critical time to increase your outreach efforts to remind and encourage your community to participate in the election.

Organize volunteers to help with phone banks, door-to-door canvassing, and distributing literature that reminds people to vote. Consider digital campaigns that target your supporters with reminders about polling locations and hours.

Step 8: Election Day

On Election Day, your campaign hits its climax. This is when you see your hard work come to fruition as voters head to the polls. It’s a day for last-minute efforts to ensure your supporters turn out.

Stay visible by visiting polling places to greet voters, ensuring that your campaign signs are prominently displayed, and using social media to encourage voter turnout. Have a team in place to monitor the voting process and be prepared to assist voters with information about their polling stations.

Step 9: The Results

After the polls close, the votes are counted and the results are announced. Whether you win or lose, it’s important to show gratitude to your supporters and reflect on the campaign’s successes and learning experiences.

If you win, prepare for the transition onto the school board, which will include an orientation for new school board members and learning more about the current issues facing the district. If the results are not in your favor, take the time to thank your team and supporters, and consider how you can continue to be involved in education advocacy.

Step 10: Post-Election

If you are elected, the real work begins as you take your oath of office and start your term as a school board member. You’ll be expected to work collaboratively with other board members and the superintendent to fulfill your responsibilities.

• Attend all board meetings and relevant training sessions for new school board members to stay informed and effective in your role.
• Engage with the community on an ongoing basis to keep abreast of their concerns and perspectives, ensuring that your decisions remain aligned with the community’s educational needs.

As you go through this process, keep in mind that your main goal is to serve children and the community. It’s a big responsibility, but it’s also a chance to change the way people learn in your community for good.

There is no specific dollar amount to run for school board. The cost of any school election varies depending on the size of the district, the number of candidates running for the position, and amount of overall money raised and spent by the candidates.

In general, a school board candidate needs:

• A strong campaign team who will work with the candidate on fundraising, voter outreach, and other areas of campaigning.
• A campaign budget that includes: advertising, printing, staff salaries, office supplies, and other expenses.

The cost of running can vary wildly. In 2011, a survey of elected school board members found that 87 percent of them spent $5,000 or less on their most recent campaign. Even in larger districts with more than 15,000 students, just 10 percent spent more than $25,000, according to the National School Boards Association.

One way to find out how much your election might cost is to check how much was spent on previous elections. This will give you a rough idea of how much you may need to raise and spend.

It’s better to overestimate your costs than you may want to budget. Indeed, the cost of some school board races run into the millions of dollars.

In the final days of a campaign, there is a lot of pressure on candidates to make sure they don’t run out of money. If you run out of money, especially near Election Day, it is a sure way to lose momentum with voters. It makes sense to budget carefully and have some financial reserves in place.

Announcing your candidacy for school board is a process that involves a lot of preparation and planning. When doing so, it is important that you are able to fully answer the question: “What are my goals for my school district?” You should have a clear understanding of local school issues and how will address those issues if elected to the board.

There are several ways that school board candidates can prepare to announce their candidacy.

A campaign website should be created to provide information about you and your platform. This website should include your biography, platform, and contact information. Make sure it is easy to navigate and has clear call-to-action so others can get involved in the campaign.

A press release should be drafted to announce your candidacy to the public. It should provide information on the candidate’s background, goals and plans if they are elected. Press releases can be distributed to local newspapers and news organizations, as well as published online. The release should include your contact information, along with a link back to your campaign website.

Social media channels also help spread the word. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube should also be used to announce your candidacy. Share updates about why you want to serve on the school board or share stories about issues that matter most to your local school district.

It’s a big step on the day you announce your candidacy. It will immediately put you in the public eye. It is important to be prepared and to make sure that you are ready for the next steps of your school board campaign.

Candidates for school board will face questions from both voters and the media. These questions are usually related to goals and issues facing the school district. You’ll want to be prepared for interview questions by your local newspaper, media, and voters.

Common Interview Questions for School Board Candidates

When answering interview questions, keep your answers simple and to the point. Make sure that you’ve prepared answers that are detailed enough to address the questions fully. Don’t stretch the truth or invent experiences. And always stay on topic.

Personal Motivation and Qualifications of Candidate

1. Why are you running for the Board of Education?
2. What unique educational challenges in our district do you plan to address?
3. What particular experience or skills prepare you to serve as a board member?
4. What donations, endorsements, or other support from outside groups have you received?
5. How do you plan to maintain transparency and accountability regarding these influences?
6. Are you running as a slate with other candidates?
7. If so, how do your collective goals align with the needs of the district?
8. Is there a specific issue that motivates you to serve on the school board?
9. How do you plan to address this issue, whether it be the role of charter schools, teacher recruitment, or school funding challenges?
10. What strategies do you have for recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers in our district?
11. What is your position on [specific issue or policy]?
12. How does this position align with the goals of enhancing educational quality and student outcomes in the district?
13. How do you plan to measure and evaluate the success of your tenure on the board?

Innovation and Improvement

1. What is your opinion on the current state of schools in the district?
2. What is your stance on standardized testing and the integration of technology in education?
3. What should the school district do to better prepare students for careers?
4. How would you promote career and technical education opportunities?
5. How do you plan to improve student achievement in the classroom?
6. How do you plan to address challenges posed by technology, including cybersecurity and digital privacy, in our schools?

Core Responsibilities

• What issues do you believe are most important to the district?
• How do you plan to address the [issues] you’ve identified?
• As a school board member, what are your budget priorities?
• What strategies would you implement to address budget constraints and funding issues?
• Where would you look to make cuts or increase in the district budget?
• What specific strategies do you have for students with special needs or disabilities, and English language learners?
• How would you address the achievement gap between different groups of students?
• How do you plan to address student mental health, safety, and the achievement gap among different student populations?
• What measures would you propose to improve school attendance rates and reduce dropout rates?
• What measures would you implement to promote equity and inclusivity?
• What innovative methods or technologies would you promote in the schools to tackle them?
• How would you handle conflicts or disagreements among board members?

Community Engagement

1. How have you been involved in the community?
2. How do you plan to leverage this experience to engage parents and other community members in the educational process?
3. How would you improve the board’s interaction with teachers and the public?
4. What role do you believe the teachers’ union should play in our district’s education system?
5. How do you plan to handle public criticism or pressure from interest groups?
6. How would you encourage collaboration and partnerships between our schools, local businesses, and community organizations?

Be prepared to answer these types of questions. Look to your candidate statement or candidate bio for reference. You may be asked these questions for a newspaper and local media interviews, and even by voters on the campaign trail.

School boards are faced with the difficult task of deciding how to allocate limited resources to provide a quality education for all students. Districts face a variety of pressing educational issues. Decisions must be made to address them.

Some hot-button issues facing school boards today are:

• Insuring that all students have access to quality education: This is about making sure every student, regardless of their background, gets a fair chance at learning.
• The need to increase the number of qualified teachers: Schools are facing a challenge in finding enough teachers who are both skilled and passionate. This issue is crucial for maintaining high educational standards.
• Bullying: This problem persists in many schools. This dovetails with the issues of school safety and security.
• Racism: Addressing racism in schools is a key concern. It’s about policies that promote understanding and respect among students of different races.
• LGBTQ and gender issues: These topics are becoming increasingly prominent. Again this is about the environment, creating an inclusive and supportive place for all, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Sex education: This is a sensitive yet essential subject. The goal is to provide students with accurate information while respecting community values.
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion in education: Here, the focus is on giving every student an equal chance to succeed. I
• School safety and security: Keeping students safe is a top priority. This includes physical safety and creating a secure student environment.
• Teacher issues – shortages, retention, and training: Schools are grappling with not just hiring teachers but also keeping them and ensuring they are well-trained.

These are just some of the challenges facing school districts today, but there are also many other budgetary issues that schools must address every day, As a candidate for school board, you must be familiar with these issues and have a position on how to address them.

What specific strategies will you implement? How would you find ways to improve your local education and better prepare students for the future.

Related:
Common School Board Campaign Issues

A school board serves as the district’s governing body. It comprised of school board members, who are typically elected. The board sets goals, creates policies, and manages the district’s resources. They also develop educational policies and oversee the budget and capital spending. They set academic standards that reflect both community needs and the state’s legal requirements. Hiring and evaluating the district superintendent falls under their purview. The board engages with the community, handles crises, and advocates for public education. A district’s education quality is greatly influenced by the board members.

Below is more detail about a school board’s primary functions and responsibilities:

• Policy Making: The school board create educational policies for local schools. These policies include school administration, student behavior, and teaching methods.
• Budgetary Oversight: The board manages the district’s finances. They handle budgeting, fund allocation, and capital financial planning.
• Hiring and Evaluation: Hiring and assessing the district superintendent and administrative staff often falls under the board’s review. The superintendent oversees the school district’s daily operations.
• Curriculum and Academic Standards: The board influences the curriculum and academic standards. They also ensure that sate and federal requirements are followed.
• Compliance and Legal Responsibilities: They ensure the district follows state and federal education laws. This includes policies on equal opportunity and special education.
• Community Representation: Board members voice community interests and concerns. A regular meetings, they engage with parents, teachers, and community members.
• Facilities Management: The board decides on maintaining and upgrading school facilities.
• Crisis Management: During crises like natural disasters, the board implements necessary emergency protocols.
• Advocacy: They champion public education at various levels. They help support and secure funds to meet educational goals.

School boards are vital in determining the quality and direction of community education. The members all hold an important position within it.

Serving on a school board is a significant time commitment. It’s more than just showing up for an occasional meeting.

Of course, the size of the district and the issues facing the board will determine the total amount of work required of members.

Some issues facing boards include:

Budget and finance planning: This is often the board’s primary focus, and where taxpayers often pay the most attention. Board members must understand the district’s finances, including funding sources and where the money is spent. The district’s finance team works with the board to ensure a balanced budget.

Student curriculum and teaching: Time must be spent reviewing and approving curriculum materials, figuring out how well students are doing, and making rules to support good teaching practices. In recent years, parents groups and even state governments have taken a closer look at what is being taught to students. Curriculum standards have become an important issue in many school district elections.

School safety and security policies: The board helps ensure that administrators, local law enforcement, and other community members, work together to create a safe student environment. This includes safety procedures, physical security methods, and emergency protocols.

Facilities and infrastructure: The buildings and grounds must be kept safe and maintained. This includes classrooms, outbuildings, and sports areas. Facility administrators and the board help make sure the students’ needs are met.

At a minimum, you’ll need to attend regular board meetings. These can last several hours each. You will also likely end up serving on various subcommittees and spending time doing community outreach, particularly if there are pressing community issues.

In addition to meetings, board members are often expected to attend school events. A lot of them. These include sporting events, plays, and concerts. You may also be asked to participate in an official capacity in meetings with other school boards and educational organizations.

In smaller districts with fewer schools, you can expect to spend less time on board-related activities. Larger districts often require a higher level of commitment due to the number of schools, students, and faculty involved.

Either way, serving on a board requires a significant commitment on your part. You’ll have to devote significant time and energy over a two to four year term to do your job properly.

Be sure to take your other responsibilities, such as your career and family, into account before you put yourself on the ballot.

The length of an elected school board member’s term can range from two to six years. The term length depends on the district.

Term lengths will vary depending on the specific state and school district. For example, California and Michigan school board members serve four-year terms. Other states, including Texas and Florida, have terms of two or three years.

In some districts, board members serve staggered terms. This means that only some members of the board are up for election at any given time. This allows for continuity and helps to ensure that new board members are not all elected or replaced at the same time.

Board members are often term-limited, but this depends on the district. Having term limits help encourage turnover and to prevent board members from becoming too entrenched and unaccountable to the public.

Serving on a school board is a significant time commitment. It’s more than just showing up for an occasional meeting. Of course, the size of the district and the issues facing the board will determine the total amount of work required of members.

A school board has to work with budgets that vary widely, often referred to as the school board budget. District budgets can range from a few hundred thousand dollars to several million dollars. It depends on factors such as district size, the number of students, and existing educational resources.

Your own district will already have its own priorities when you run for a position on the board. The money for the school budget comes from contributions from local community, the state, and the federal government.

Types of educational expenditures that school board members oversee:

Teacher salaries: Depending on the size of the district, teacher salaries can range widely. It is often a significant chunk of the annual budget.

Building maintenance: The cost of maintaining school buildings can be significant. There are expenses such as cleaning, repairs, and upgrades. Simply repairing a school roof can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Textbooks and instructional materials: These costs can add up to several thousand dollars per classroom budget, per year.

Technology: Schools must maintain and update computer hardware, software, and other tech.

• Network infrastructure improvements and maintenance
• Licenses for educational software and digital learning platforms
• Purchases of student devices like tablets and laptops
• Internet service fees and cybersecurity measures

Transportation: The cost of maintaining and operating school buses can be significant. This is mostly based on the size of the district and the number of students that require transportation.

• Fuel costs for daily routes and extracurricular activities
• Salaries and training for bus drivers
• Regular maintenance and safety inspections of the bus fleet
• Costs associated with field trips and sports team transportation

Special education services: Specialized services and accommodations for students with disabilities can include staffing, equipment, and other resources. Costs can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars per student, per year.

• Specialized instructional materials and assistive technologies
• Professional development and training for special education staff
• Adaptations to facilities to ensure accessibility
• Additional support staff such as aides and therapists

The most contentious spending issues within a school district include:

Property taxes: Property taxes provide most of the funding sources for schools today. Some taxpayers often feel that they are paying too much in school taxes. They may oppose tax increases or the school budget allocation for new education or construction projects.

Teacher salaries and benefits: Some parents and taxpayers feel that teachers are overpaid and enjoy too many benefits. Others argue that teachers are underpaid and undervalued for the important work they do.

School safety: With concerns about school shootings and other acts of violence, many parents demand increased school security measures. However, others feel that additional measures are too expensive or even unnecessary.

Technology: Some parents and voters may question the need for schools to invest in technology, such as tablets and laptops for students. They may argue that paying for school tech is not necessary, or that traditional methods of instruction should be used.

Special education services: Some feel that too much of the budget is spent on special education services. Others want to dedicate more resources to support students with disabilities.

These are just a few examples of the most contentious spending issues. School board members must listen to all these concerns and engage in school financial planning to decide what is both in the best interest of students and the entire community.

The budget is typically set by the district superintendent and the school board members. Along with district staff, everyone must ensure that resources are being used properly to provide the best education possible for the students. Community involvement is also important to address the school district financial challenges and to ensure student-centered budgeting.

Serving on a school board is a rewarding and impactful way to make a meaningful contribution to shaping your local education system. To prepare for your campaign, there are several things you can do to understand what a board member’s job entails.

Familiarize yourself with the district’s policies and procedures: Start by reading the manual on policies and procedures. This will show you how the board operates and what it does. Attend training sessions or workshops that provide some in-depth understanding. Ask current board members or district administrators for additional guidance or insight into the board’s process.

Attend school board meetings: Attend school board meetings to see how the board operates. This will help you understand what issues are at play and how the board is handling them. Consider attending related committee meetings or workshops to find out more about specific district topics and current initiatives.

Learn about the issues: Stay up-to-date on current educational issues. Start by reading publications, attending conferences, and even networking with education professionals. Are there additional training or courses you can take to make you a more informed candidate?

Gain experience in leadership positions by serving on other boards or committees, doing volunteer work in the community, or joining civic organizations. This can help give you the skills and experience required to lead on a school board.

Build more relationships: Start to build relationships with community leaders and stakeholders. This includes parents, teachers, administrators, and even business leaders, to understand their perspectives and priorities.

Put together your plan or platform: Put together a plan or platform that explains your priorities and goals. Develop clear plans for dealing with these problems. Be ready to explain your platform ideas clearly to the public.

Start pre-campaigning activities: If you want to run for a seat on the school board, you should attend candidate forums and meet with people who might vote for you. Consider using social media to engage with potential voters and share your agenda.

By doing these things, you can get ready to run for and serve on a school board. Proper preparation helps ensure that you have the right tools to make decisions that are good for both the district and its students.

A good school board member has several key qualities. First, they must deeply understand education. This includes keeping up to date on current issues and policies. Excellent communication skills are needs, as members must be capable of expressing ideas to both individuals and audiences. Listening is just as important. They must be able to balance difference diverse needs and perspectives.

Members play a crucial role of the school board. They must critically analyze information to make informed choices. They should also be committed to their district’s educational goals, while being transparent and ethical in their actions. Finally, a good board member works well with others towards common goals.

As a member of your local school board, you hold a lot of power. Through the board, you can influence and improve the educational experience of countless students. With these traits, you’ll be well-equipped to make a positive impact.