When voting for members of your school board it is important to have an understanding of what those individuals CAN and SHOULD do vs. what they CANNOT and SHOULD NOT do. The purpose of a school board is not to oversee the day to day management of a school, but to hire effective administrators that do so. Once in place, it is the job of the school board to ensure that expectations are being met within those roles. In fact, the only two employees hired and overseen by the board is the superintendent and treasurer. I believe that an effective board is one that has a strong longterm vision for the school and successfully plans and manages the budget to be able to carry out that budget in the short term.
It is also the job of the school board to listen intently to the voices of parents and represent those voices to the school superintendent, ensuring that school policies accurately reflect the community and the best interest of our students and their opportunities for achievement. Similarly, the individuals on the school board must take an active role in building strong relationships with teachers and students so they can better understand their needs in order to ensure the school is providing the highest education with "Students at the Center". It is my view that the school board serves as a checks and balance within the school structure, promoting accountability and transparency on the part of the school administration, and therefore, hopefully encouraging engagement and trust from the parents. If the individuals on the school board can effectively do all of the above, it will be able to uphold, and evolve, the mission and vision of the school. Through integrity and commitment to its specific role, the school board is capable of building strong bridges of trust within the community.
