Why is the upcoming Atlanta Public School school board election critically important?
The APS Board helps make decisions and determines how the community’s children are educated and how tax dollars are spent. Voting for school board members is a simple but powerful way to support student success and strengthen the community.
The election for the APS board is unique in the metro Atlanta area in that all nine board members are elected at the same time. There are no staggered terms and there is always the possibility that a complete turnover of the board may occur, leaving no veterans as elected officials. Apparently, several of the nine members have decided not to seek another term.
School board races often tend to generate little attention or momentum. However, the decisions made by school boards often affect virtually every important aspect of local schools from school boundaries to bus schedules, curriculum to clubs and even funding field trips.
The Georgia Constitution requires that an elected school board “manages and controls” a local school system and makes decisions on almost all aspects of public school operations. While individual board members have no authority outside of the boardroom, the school board as a whole serves as the governing body.
Local citizens need to remember that many of the day-to-day responsibilities for which school boards are responsible generally are delegated to the superintendent. However, in Georgia, responsibilities of a public school board also include but are not limited to some duties that cannot be delegated, such as:
· The hiring and firing of the local school system superintendent,
· Buying and selling school property (including the power of condemnation),
· Calling elections to authorize a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and bond elections to authorize the issuance of bonded debt,
· Making the policies and rules necessary to govern the school system,
· Reorganization and consolidation of schools within their control and
· Authority to hire employees on the recommendation of the superintendent.
What qualities, skills and experience should you look for in a school board candidate? Here are some questions to consider.
· What is the candidate’s vision and goals for high academic achievement for all students?
· Does the candidate inspire parents and other stakeholders to have confidence in the local public schools?
· Does the candidate understand that the school board’s role is about the big picture, setting the direction for the district and providing oversight and accountability rather than the day-to-day management (micro-management)?
· Does the candidate focus on a single issue or is he or she concerned about all the issues that come before the board?
· Does the candidate’s approach make it likely that he or she will be able to work effectively with the rest of the board to get things done?
In Georgia there are actually very few qualifications for school board membership. Board members should be willing to serve, be a qualified voter and be eligible to vote and reside within the school district’s political boundary. Depending on the APS charter that governs the system, there may be other qualifications as well or provisions that also disqualifies an individual from serving on a board. Pay attention to news reports, if in fact the APS charter has other stipulations for candidacy.
Please do not discount the APS board election as an unimportant vote. Every child enrolled in the Atlanta Public Schools is a reason for you to vote in the Nov. 5 election. The APS school board impacts the overall quality of the school system now and in the future. Weigh your vote carefully. You want the most qualified people elected without political or special interest agendas. Scrutinize their backgrounds and the groups that are backing them. Thoroughly understand what each individual brings to the board in terms of expertise and their willingness to collaborate and work as a team.
