School board members should know what is and what is not expected of them

EDITOR:

I read with some cautious elation as to the candidates who are seeking seats on the Youngstown Board of Education. In an urban city the size of Youngstown, one would have anticipated that the candidate pool would have been vastly greater with individuals made up of many diverse fields of expertise, such as homemakers, educators, attorneys, bankers and especially retired higher education individuals who possess sorely needed pedagogy in areas that are vital to any school district: urban, rural, or suburban.

I would offer this suggestion as one who has been in the field of education not only from a local level but a national level and experience from elementary schools to higher education.

First, take the time to research and fully understand the role of a school board member. The Ohio School Boards Association offers seminars to those who are seeking membership on boards of education. If you cannot attend one of these seminars, go on the Internet and research on sites; example, The National School Boards Association, the Council of Great City Schools, the Board of Urban School Boards and the Ohio Association of School Boards. There are many other sites.

Second, I would hope that any candidate seeking a seat on any board of education would understand the following should they become successful and be elected: “The Role of a School Board Member — Being Accountable.”

1. The direct and foremost line item of school boards is its students.

2. The school board in making its decision about school programs must incorporate their community’s views of what students should know and be able to accomplish.

3. School boards must be accessible to the public and be held accountable for the operation of their schools.

4. School boards must be the watchdog for their district to ensure that students get the best education for the tax dollars being allocated.

Candidates who are eventually selected must understand what it takes to have an effective school board. If criteria used to designate schools were also used to designate boards of education, I wonder how many would be rated Excellent, Effective, Needs Improvement or Management Emergency?

Effective boards focus on student achievement and they allocate time, money and personnel according to needs. Effective boards don’t forget they are accountable to the community. Effective board members must know what questions to ask about what services are being provided,at what cost and if there are benefits. Effective boards must provide the community with datat that shows the schools are getting measurable results for the tax dollars spent.

Effective boards will engage the community they are elected to serve. As a Steering Committee member of the Council of Urban Boards, we seek to recognize boards that exemplify these leadership characteristics with annual awards and recognition.

The best way any board can truly meet all the standards to be designated as Effective is to have board members who are trained to exercise responsibility, have a vision, demonstrate progressive leadership, and provide accountability. Some states require local board member training for all newly elected and appointed school board members.

The city of Columbus developed a governance process that can be used by any school district to develop a process of effective board leadership.

I quote: “The Board will govern lawfully with emphasis on the end results for students, rather than on interpersonal issues of the Board; encourage diversity of viewpoints; focus on strategic leadership rather than administrative detail; observe clear distinction between the Board and Superintendent roles; make collective rather than individual decisions; exhibit future orientation rather than past or present, and govern proactively rather than reactively.”

LOCK P. BEACHUM Sr.

Youngstown

X The writer is a member of the Yougstown Baord of Education and is vice chair of the Council of Urban Boards of Education.