@ Running for School Board?

[redheadbaker]

Long story short, I've been asked by another parent if I'd consider running for one of three open school board seats. I don't have any education experience, and I've read past posts on this board, and many were vehemently opposed to someone without experience running for school board. 

A group of parents is trying to change the culture of the schools for the better. Last year, the elementary school principal created the Diversity Cafe for parents, staff and community members, and we've been meeting monthly for a year. We've made some baby steps -- evaluating the elementary school ibrary offerings and held a book drive to increase representation in the books available for the students. 

Our superintendent set a goal for this school year to implement a review of the curriculum, practices and policies, to evaluate how the District can promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Nothing of substance has been done, and when asked about it during school board meetings, the response was basically, "We had a webinar for the staff." 

A small group of us have formed an action group to push for change, and we've submitted questions regarding this goal during two of the board's meetings, and it's pretty clear that the superintendent doesn't intend to do much more regarding this goal. Two members of the board seemed interested in doing more, but it doesn't appear they can take any action if the superintendent doesn't initiate it. 

Would it be worth it to try to run, even though I don't have any education or ed policy experience? Seven of the nine current board members don't have any ed experience, either. Should we wait for someone with ed experience to run? 

[bronxgirl]

I think it would still be a good idea for you to run. If eventually someone shows up with similar ideas, but more experience you can always withdraw and throw your support behind that person. Or if you know of someone more qualified that you could approach about running you could do that. But if it will be someone without relevant experience anyway (as it often is) than better to have someone focused on diversity and equity than someone who isn't and is equally non-experienced.

[minzy]

No personal experience but I highly, highly recommend this book:
bookshop.org/books/somebody-s-gotta-do-it-why-cursing-at-the-news-won-t-save-the-nation-but-your-name-on-a-local-ballot-can/9781250247636
Good luck with your decision. I think you’d need a tough skin but local office is where you can really make a difference.

[redheadbaker]

Feb 23, 2021 10:40:36 GMT -5 minzy said:

No personal experience but I highly, highly recommend this book:
bookshop.org/books/somebody-s-gotta-do-it-why-cursing-at-the-news-won-t-save-the-nation-but-your-name-on-a-local-ballot-can/9781250247636
Good luck with your decision. I think you’d need a tough skin but local office is where you can really make a difference.

Thanks for the book rec! 

[waverly]

I think you should run with a caveat. The caveat being since you don't have education experience to take the time to listen to the super/ principals/ teachers etc on the workings of the school system, so that you can learn about it and make informed decisions. The duties of the board include much more than a diversity initiative- you probably know that, just mentioning it. Things like decisions on how school should look like during a pandemic, lots of financial decisions and overviews, strategic planning, referendum (possibly) planning, advocacy for the schools with the public, attending in person forums when school events are back in person and possibly being put on the spot to answer questions by parents. 

[lilac05]

I think it’s great to have people from all backgrounds on a school board, as it brings different perspectives and depth. However, 7/9 from a non-education background seems pretty high! How many of those will be leaving?

That said, I don’t think that not having a background in education should stop you from running. It won’t stop anyone else. People will vote for who they think will best fill the position.

I’ve had many people suggest that I consider the same thing in the future. While I doubt it’ll happen, I have started watching all of the school board meetings. It has helped me realize just how much goes into it! If you haven’t already, I encourage you to do the same. Make sure you want to be involved in ALL of it, not just your passion project. I don’t say that to be dismissive. You’ve got a great project and goals that is really important! But if that is 90+% of the reason you want to be on the board, you may be more effective to continue to be in the groups that you’re in and then spend some of your time meeting with individual board members to get them on board. Our board does more voting on what others present than actual producing.

[noodleoo]

Feb 23, 2021 10:40:36 GMT -5 minzy said:

Good luck with your decision. I think you’d need a tough skin but local office is where you can really make a difference.

Agreed with this!  If you are interested, go for it!  But you really do need a tough skin.  You will get opinions from everyone but few people put in the work to realize how difficult it is to make change and that it is impossible to make everyone happy.  My sister is on her school board.  She joined right before the pandemic.  She doesn't have an educational degree, but she has kids in the district and was attending all the meetings for years prior to running because she cared.  With the pandemic, it has been very difficult because everyone on all sides vents to her but doesn't appreciate how hard her job is.

My sister would agree with the PP that the first year of her term was basically learning how the board worked.  She's running for a second term (even after the pandemic!  I was honestly surprised given how nasty/stressful it was for her).  It is a ton of work, but if you care, you can make a difference.

[kmaxxx]

Encouraging other women to run for local office is a personal mission of mine, so I'm coming out of lurkdom to encourage you to go for it! I serve on my school board, and was also drawn into the role by initially serving on our district equity committee. Don't worry about your lack of educational background - it's more important to have a passion for your community and for education, and to fully understand and embrace the role of board member which is to set vision and direction and empower the superintendent and district leaders figure out how to make it reality.

I agree with having a thick skin. I'm a people pleaser by nature, and this experience has been trial by fire for being OK with always having a percentage of people think you're an awful human being. If that's your area of growth, I highly recommend it This year has been hell, not gonna lie. But I'm a firm believer that decisions are made by those who show up, so I showed up. Overall it's been a difficult and extremely satisfying experience, and I'm glad I did it.

As someone else mentioned, even if you don't feel you're quite ready, definitely stay involved and connected. We were desperately seeking candidates for our upcoming election and had a tough time filling the ballot, and I'm now working to build a longer-term pipeline in my community of women who have it as a longer-term goal.

[af1212]

I think you are in a district near me. My district is a few years ahead of where it sounds like you are in terms of these initiatives.

I would be happy to talk with you about what our board has experienced, where there have been growing pains, and put you in touch with a board member if it would help you.

[taratru]

I'm not opposed to board members not having direct experience, if they listen to the people who do.

I think you'd be fucking GREAT on a school board.

[redheadbaker]

Feb 23, 2021 14:21:04 GMT -5 af1212 said:

I think you are in a district near me. My district is a few years ahead of where it sounds like you are in terms of these initiatives.

I would be happy to talk with you about what our board has experienced, where there have been growing pains, and put you in touch with a board member if it would help you.

That would be fantastic, thank you! 

[maudefindlay]

I've never heard you need education experience to be on a school board, all of the boards I know always have a mix of community members which I think is important for that outside perspective. If criticism doesn't bother you then do it!

[eport]

I would speak to someone on the school board about expectations and logistics: how many meetings a month, how long, are there committees, how much reading, prep time, meeting time.

Also, check with the school admin office on what is needed to run: signatures needed, other documents such as financial disclosures and when they are due (Illinois has an optional loyalty oath to run for office that literally states that you are not a communist nor support the violent or non violent overthrow of the constitution. Again, optional form). Just make sure you know what you are getting into.

I would also suggest She Should Run. They have free classes on how to run for office and an online community that is helpful and willing to answer questions.

[downtoearth]

Do it. I have been so close and have supported friends on the school board. I would say go for it. I put my name in a couple years ago, but then found out that the person who was already on the board decided to run again and she was great, so I pulled my petition. Maybe again in the future, I'll consider. But we have some great people right now.

[redheadbaker]

Feb 23, 2021 15:12:55 GMT -5 eport said:

I would speak to someone on the school board about expectations and logistics: how many meetings a month, how long, are there committees, how much reading, prep time, meeting time.

Also, check with the school admin office on what is needed to run: signatures needed, other documents such as financial disclosures and when they are due (Illinois has an optional loyalty oath to run for office that literally states that you are not a communist nor support the violent or non violent overthrow of the constitution. Again, optional form). Just make sure you know what you are getting into.

I would also suggest She Should Run. They have free classes on how to run for office and an online community that is helpful and willing to answer questions.

Already got the logistics and admin info, but thanks for the website rec! 

[wawa]

Nosily curious - is the board there just your local school district?  I know that's how my school in PA worked - board and super for a single high school, 1 feeder middle, 2 elementary.  Down here it's single board for the entire county. 

I think you should go for it!

[redheadbaker]

Feb 23, 2021 21:53:03 GMT -5 wawa said:

Nosily curious - is the board there just your local school district?  I know that's how my school in PA worked - board and super for a single high school, 1 feeder middle, 2 elementary.  Down here it's single board for the entire county. 

I think you should go for it!

Yes, except our district is only 1 elementary, and 1 middle/high school. Less than 1K students total. 

[wawa]

Feb 23, 2021 22:07:23 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Feb 23, 2021 21:53:03 GMT -5 wawa said:

Nosily curious - is the board there just your local school district?  I know that's how my school in PA worked - board and super for a single high school, 1 feeder middle, 2 elementary.  Down here it's single board for the entire county. 

I think you should go for it!

Yes, except our district is only 1 elementary, and 1 middle/high school. Less than 1K students total. 

Then definitely go for it! Down here being on the school board is equally as political and high tension as running for county council since it's a county wide board (like a dozen high schools?), maybe even more so since people tend to follow school board decisions more closely than the council. So i'd encourage you to think about the whole process before jumping in, but a PA school board situation sounds much more managable.

And having sat in front of local elected bodies on many an occasion for work - the people who do the best jobs are those who have done their homework, leave their ego aside and ask thoughtful questions. You'd be great.

[somersault72]

A friend/acquaintance of mine won a spot on her district's schoolboard as did a husband of an acquaintance of mine. The passion my friend showed and continues to show toward making her district better is such a breath of fresh air. So I say go for it, but I'm not an educator (just a parent of a school aged child).

[amberlyrose]

One of the strongest advocates on the Denver school board has no education experience or college degree- he ran because he was a product of the school and wanted to see changes made. He has ruffled some feathers and I'm not sure how the teacher unions feel about him, but I think his unique perspective was needed, especially this year.

All that to say- I think you should do it!

[seeyalater52]

I don’t think school board candidates should have to have education experience. I do think they should be generally representative of the community and school populations they serve - although achieving that representation is not the job of any singular candidate. Where I live we need more white women running for school board like we need a hole in the head, and the SB is way too white and affluent to represent the community. That said, a lot of the school board and city council members, and the mayor, are racist assholes, so it is very hard to recruit people of color, and especially women of color, to run. In many cases it’s preferable for a social justice minded white woman to run to fill that role or we would never have anyone progressive elected.

[whattheheck]

Can I ask what your background is in? Quite frankly when I vote I am looking for someone with financial experience since our district is a financial disaster. I also supported and voted for the doctor who ran because I value his understanding of and insight on COVID-19.