By Dr. Alison Hanks-Sloan, aka Dr. AHS
What is the role of the Board of Education? This has been a common question as our students attend and/or watch the board meetings.
In our community, most schools have seven publicly elected board members. Each member represents a geographical area. All members usually serve four-year terms and are elected by their constituents in November. They can also be appointed if they are filling a vacancy mid-term of a person who vacates the position.
The board members must reside in the community that they represent. They do not need any prior experience in public education nor hold any specific degree. They are not paid to do the job. Also, they often hold another job, which cannot be part of the school district.
Joy Flynn (TA I); Carol Turley (TA II); Gabriel Medina (TA III); Daniel Dodge Jr. (TA IV); Dr. Heather Contreras (Superintendent); Olivia Flores (TA V); Jessica Carrasco (TA VI); Dr. Misty Navarro, (TA VII); Daniel Esqueda (2024-25 Student Trustee) 2025: Board President – Olivia Flores; Vice President/Clerk – Dr. Misty Navarro
There is also a student board member. Every spring, the superintendent invites students to complete an application. A group of finalists is selected to interview, and the selected student makes a commitment to serve for a year. The student serves on the board all year. Engaged student board members attend all the meetings, prepare for them by inquiring about different topics, and actively engage in the meetings.
The board usually meets every two to three weeks. Public agendas are to be shared 72 hours in advance. They are both emailed and posted on the school board website. Additional board meetings can be called in between the scheduled meetings, as well. Most meetings begin at 6 PM following the closed session which happens before the public session.
It is the board of education members’ roles to govern the public schools in the district. They hold the superintendent accountable as they lead the hiring, conduct the evaluation, and renew the contract. They approve the district’s budget, goals, and policies, as they represent the community’s interests.
The board members should reflect the priorities and values of their constituents. They should be the checks and balances that ask the important questions to inform and help the community understand the district’s goals, systems and structures, need for support, and accountability process. The California Schools Boards Association identified the school board member’s role as “providing community leadership as advocates for children, the school district and public schools.”
The school board serves the community, not the superintendent. Ideally, the school board collaborates with the superintendent to communicate a shared vision and policy direction, as the superintendent is the chief officer guiding the daily operations. The superintendent implements the board decisions, makes recommendations, expertly advises, and supervises the instructional and operational leaders.
Both superintendent and school board work together, not for one or for the other. When there is balanced collaboration, they can make decisions that best serve the students, staff, and families. There are over 1,000 school districts and 5,000 school board members in California.
The school board and superintendent are guided by the California Department of Education, the state organization that develops the Educational Code, also referred to as the “Ed Code”. The board follows Ed Code and then uses Robert’s Rules of Orders to guide the process: motion making, discussion, amending, and voting.
In open sessions of the board meeting, school board members adopt resolutions which should clearly explain the guidelines of the implementation. Resolutions often begin with the historical context and details about why it was proposed. This is where the discussion traditionally happens. They also discuss the action needed to implement it. Then, they make a motion to vote on the issue, which requires a majority vote to be approved.
In closed sessions of the board meeting, they discuss personnel matters including new hires; renewals of positions, student disciplinary action including expulsions or long term suspensions, and reassignments, which can include administrators. The superintendent brings these discussions to the board for their approval.
Many of these decisions must be made under the Ed Code guidelines and timelines. For example, if the superintendent chooses to reassign administrators (principals. assistant principals, supervisors, etc) in these closed door discussions, the board must approve it before March 15. Then, it would be effective July 1. The superintendent needs no official basis for the removal. The selected administrator would be reassigned to another school and/or in another role for which s/he qualifies. If the administrator had a disciplinary record and was not being renewed, s/he would be released July 1.
All constituents (the voter, student, and/or parent) have the right to contact their school board member. Each school board member has a school district email. Constituents can express concerns or gratitude, ask questions, or provide information that pertains to the issues most important to you. Also, constituents should encourage the board members to visit schools and share a special event invitation with them.
Remember that the school board member represents you (their constituents). Use your voice and stay informed. What happens in your local school district impacts the students, staff, and the community. Help our community SAIL (Safe community, Aspire higher, Integrity oriented, and Lead by example.)
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Dr. Alison Hanks-Sloan has spent 30 years in education as a principal, district supervisor, teacher, college instructor & program leader, & Peace Corps volunteer.