MSBA releases video for school board candidates

The Missouri School Boards' Association (MSBA) has recently made a new resource available for school board candidates -- an informative video titled "Board Services for Student Learning: A Guide to School Board Candidates."

The four-part video is hosted by MSBA's Chief Communications Officer, Brent Ghan, with assistance from MSBA members.

The first sections of the video, "Program Overview and the Realities of School Board Service," Ghan is joined by MSBA President Peggy Taylor and MSBA Executive Director Dr. Carter Ward.

Ward kicks off the discussion by explaining why school boards are important and some of the laws required of school board members, such as completing 16 hours of training.

Ward says MSBA offers the training and covers several topics in doing so.

Taylor reminds potential board members that there is a time sacrifice for board members, saying that the biggest adjustment she had to make was being away from her family more than she was.

In the second chapter, Ghan is joined by Kyle Farmer, MSBA director of school law, and Mike Reed, MSBA associate executive director for advocacy, as they discuss "Laws to Know When Starting Out."

The segment kicks off with a discussion on the open meeting and record act, also known as the Sunshine Law.

According to Farmer, the public has a right to know "what we are doing and more importantly, how we are spending their money."

"It is tough for some new board members to handle," Farmer said. "We work in an open society and an open form of government."

Farmer then speaks briefly about exceptions to the Sunshine Law, such as personnel and student issues, legal matters, purchasing real estate, etc.

"The exceptions are very narrowly crafted," Farmer said.

Also discussed is open and closed records and access to those records.

Reed then discusses nepotism.

"The Missouri Constitution says [board members] cannot participate in the vote to employ or appoint a relative within four degrees of blood or marriage."

Reed then talks about the protocol used in such a situation, as affected board members must recuse themselves from the vote.

Reed took care to mention that if a board member violates the nepotism clause, they forfeit their seat on the board.

In the third chapter, "A School Board's 'Job One'," Ghan is joined by MSBA Associate Executive Director of Board Services Kelli Hopkins, MSBA Associate Executive Director of Education and Training David Lineberry, and MSBA Director of Board Development Phyllis Barks.

The group discusses the primary goal of school boards, which they say is student achievement.

According to Lineberry, "Schools are for learning and it is up to the board to take the accountability to make sure the students are learning."

During the conversation, the group discusses programs and tests used to monitor student achievement and teacher performance, such as the Missouri Assessment Program and End of Course Exams, as well as how board policies are used to govern the district.

In the final chapter, "Helping Public Schools Succeed," Ghan, along with MSBA Associate Executive Director of Special Services Dr. Kim Ratcliff, MSBA Associate Executive Director of School Resources Jim Cherrington, and MSBA Deputy Executive Director of General Counsel Melissa Randol discuss how MSBA serves boards across the state and the advocacy role of school boards.

According to Cherrington, school boards were established to "provide resources to the schools," which he says is the reason the MSBA was established.

The groups talks about services provided by MSBA including school resources, advocacy, board services, education and training, and school resources, and others.

Following the services discussion, the group talks about how MSBA is set up to represent each region in the state.

For potential board members, the MSBA video can offer a lot of information that the candidates may not be aware of, which is its purpose, according to Ward.

"As the name implies, we are trying to help people who are filing for the board," Ward said, adding that it gives potential board members a broader view of the "realities of school board service."

Ward said the purpose of school boards goes back to accountability.

"It goes back to our democratic way of life," Ward said. "In America, we believe in people. Particularly, [we believe in] local government having a voice in controlling government institution. The public schools, because they are publicly funded, have the opportunity to receive guidance and policy making decisions from those who benefit from the system. Consequently, local school boards provide the opportunity and that connectivity between those who truly own the schools and those who benefit from the schools."

To view the video, log on to www.dddnews.com.