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So, You Want to Run for the School Board...
by Judy Saks
Published in partnership with the National School Boards Foundation.
Mary Lee Cozad decided to run for a seat on the DeKalb, Illinois, school board because she was worried about the quality of education her two daughters were getting. While the existing board planned to build a new administrative complex, she and a friend campaigned for smaller class sizes and higher academic standards.
Most people who run for school board are like Cozad--they have one or more burning issues they want to address. But the motivation to improve education is only the beginning of the election process. To make their dreams a reality, school board candidates need to know the legal requirements, have enough money and media smarts to run a winning campaign, and get training to do their jobs well. For those of you interested in running for the school board, here are a few things you should do to get the ball rolling.
Know the Law
Acquaint your self with your state's law. Find out if your school board is elected in November or in April (or some other month) and whether board members are elected at large or from certain geographic areas. Can you run at age 18--or must you be 24 years old to run? Although laws differ, to run for a school board seat in most states, candidates must be at least 21 years old and must be registered voters living in the district they want to represent. State law often asks all candidates for public office to file financial disclosure statements and to present a nominating petition signed by a certain percentage of registered voters.
Get the Green
Raise enough money to run an effective campaign. While it is still relatively inexpensive to run for a school board seat, the costs of mounting a campaign are rising, especially in large cities or in districts where school board seats are hotly contested.
Most school board members prefer to campaign the old-fashioned way, allocating their money fairly equally among brochures, print advertisements, and bumper stickers. But those trends are also changing. Not only are some school board races becoming more costly, but they are also becoming more sophisticated. Many candidates are making fuller use of voter lists to target specific demographic groups, and some are using online services to reach likely supporters. A school board member in Clayton, Missouri, used online services to search for registered voters in his community and send them email messages about his campaign--a strategy that gave him the edge he needed to win the 1995 election.
Get Clued In
Get the training you need after you've won the election--or before, if possible. Some states now mandate training for school board members to brief them on the wide range of financial, academic, facilities, and technology issues--as well as state and federal laws--they must understand. State school boards associations offer training opportunities, and many local districts supplement this training with sessions of their own. For example, the Allen Independent School District in Texas holds an annual "academy" to give potential school board candidates a taste of how complex the job can be. The program makes candidates better informed by offering detailed information about the school district's operation and gives them a chance to talk with current board members about issues and problems.
Know Yourself
Assess whether you can take the pressure of balancing often conflicting demands, whether you will thrive in the glare of the public eye and the media spotlight, and whether you are willing to work long hours for little or no pay. Are you committed to providing the best possible public education for students in your community? Can you be a team player? Can you work for the good of the entire community without becoming a single-issue candidate? If so, you might consider running for your local school board. Many communities need determined, fair-minded people who want to advocate for children and are willing to spend time and energy to improve public education.
