Before you make a decision and vote for school board members — between now and November 8–research the options carefully.

Are your candidates committed to attending at least two in-person evening meetings each month, and will they come to each meeting prepared and ready to learn, discuss, and vote on what’s best for students?

Have your candidates recently volunteered in a classroom or for a school-wide event or attended recent school board meetings?

Will your candidates review minutes of recent meetings and attend meetings before they are sworn in and begin serving as a board member?

Are they aware of the Michigan curriculum standards, the Michigan Merit Curriculum, Michigan’s School Code, the district’s Strategic Plan, and the Profile of a 21st Century Graduate?

Do they understand how Michigan’s schools are financed?

Are they aware that school boards are non-partisan?

Do they know that the board hires the superintendent to run the school system?

Do they understand the roles of school board members in hiring and evaluating the superintendent, adopting budgets, ratifying contracts, establishing policy as required by law, etc.?

Have your candidates reviewed the bylaws and policies of the board?

Do they believe that the district must work to meet the needs of all students, providing a safe and positive environment regardless of special abilities, characteristics, goals, interests, qualities, or traits?

Do they understand that a school board’s authority is constrained by state and federal law, and that decisions must reflect these laws as well as rulings established through court cases?

Do they understand that board members have no authority as individuals, that any action takes a majority vote of members of the board?

Do they understand that while they have the right to review and approve employee contracts, their authority over teachers and principals is limited?

Please do your research!

GORDON SNOW,

Alpena