Board Meetings

If possible, visit two consecutive Board meetings and answer the questions below. Questions: Identify the number of Board members, their gender, race, party affiliation (if applicable). Do you believe that the Board demographics reflect the district population ? Are they elected or appointed ? If elected do they serve at-large (represent the entire county) or do they represent a district, or is there a hybrid arrangement ? How do you think the manner in which the Board members are selected affects the operation of the Board ? Is the Board partisan or nonpartisan, do the members serve concurrent or staggered terms, and what is the term length for each member ? Was the current Board configuration the result of special legislation and if so, was that special legislation a response to a Voting Rights Act challenge ? How would you describe the relationship between individual Board members and the superintendent during the meeting ? What substantive issues were discussed at the two meetings? Was there a member of the media present ? If so, did the media accurately report what happened and did you think that the tone of the report/article was appropriate ? Critique the agendas of the two meetings - the format, placement of items, and flow of the meetings. Do your school board members act more like trustees or delegates ? What evidence supports your opinion ?