SLO County Office of Education

SLOCOEDU

Motion, Second, Discussion, & Civility

BY JAMES BRESCIA, ED.D. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTOF SCHOOLS

Over the past two years, because of the pandemic, I attended most local school board meetings virtually and observed local governance in action. Like the rest of the state, San Luis Obispo County experienced a much higher participation rate because of the virtual access to meetings. After returning to in-person meetings, some San Luis Obispo County School districts and charters continue offering a hybrid option for remote participation. Several districts throughout the state have made formal resolutions to continue the hybrid practice. The County Board of Education is holding in-person meetings with an option for the public to participate virtually. Because County Board meetings are primarily appellate, many participants are from across the county. The remote option for County Board meetings was available before the pandemic but was rarely implemented. Regardless of the type of access, the public must remain engaged in local government.

A few years ago, I mentioned to a friend that an upcoming local board meeting required my attendance, and John joked, “You mean a bored meeting, don’t you?” I said, “No, not really.” Local school board meetings are not dull, irrelevant, or wasted time. Today, more than at any time in my nearly 40-year career, I find local boards important, relevant, and crucial in navigating today’s complex issues. Locally elected school board members or “trustees” are non-partisan members of our community that ideally reflect the diversity of those they serve. According to the National School Boards Association, 44 percent of school trustees are female (more than the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate), and over 25 percent of elected school board members are from underrepresented ethnic populations. Every school district in the country has an elected board of trustees. Approximately 95,000 school board members make up the country’s largest group of elected officials. In addition to parents, teachers, staff, and administrators, school board members support quality education provided within the communities they represent.

Most school boards convene one-to-two times per month, are open to the public, are often one of the largest employers in a city or community, and provide governance for the schools they represent. A subtle but significant note is that board meetings are meetings of the school board in public, not public forums. The public can become frustrated by the formality of school board meetings because of government and education code regulations. It is best to ask the school administration how to share information or comments outside the 3-minute time limit for public input. Trustees serve four-year terms staggered to prevent large vacancies from occurring all at once. A trustee must be a registered voter who is at least 18 years old, a citizen of the state they represent, live in the jurisdiction boundaries, and eligible under the state’s constitution to be elected to public office. Depending upon the school district’s size, most trustees are unpaid or receive a small stipend and possibly health insurance coverage. School districts are complex, multimillion dollar organizations. Board members can work from 10 to 40 hours per month on school district governance matters. Governing boards oversee the needs of students, families, and budgets. Trustees also provide solid stewardship for the nation’s schools.

Highly functional school boards fill a vital role in maintaining local districts by always keeping the best interests of all students first. Boards should model civility when celebrating successes or dealing with challenges. Successful school boards understand that boards govern while the superintendent, district administrators, teachers, and staff manage their schools. Five critical components of effective school boards are setting a vision, advancing policy, demonstrating accountability, playing a leadership role in the community, and forging civil consensus. The last component is often one of the most difficult to maintain in today’s media-drenched political atmosphere. The title of this article is “Motion, Second, Discussion, & Civility,” not “my way or the highway.” An effective board is secure with differing votes that reflect the community they represent. Confident boards often encourage diverse opinions while building a consensus that moves items forward with a majority vote representing the people who elected the trustees.

Experienced school board members know that true consensus is not about winners and losers. Motion, Second, Discussion asks all participants to consider and eventually affirm the key points:

1. “Are all voices heard?” 2. “Is the item understood?” 3. “Is it clear that the group’s will has emerged around the proposal?”

When a trustee makes a motion and another trustee seconds the motion, the board then discusses/listens/votes on the action. True democracy exists when civility is maintained, authentic dialogue occurs, and a majority vote takes place. I encourage everyone reading this article to thank our locally elected trustees, attend a school board meeting, and engage in the civic process with civility. The Institute for Local Government reminds us that local officials grapple with complex issues regularly. Bringing as many perspectives on the best solution to a given problem increases the likelihood that the solution will be successful and enduring. Please get in touch with your local school district or the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education for additional information. It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools.

“I’d be very happy serving on a local school board. I just know that I have a responsibility to give back.” — Andrew Zimmern

“Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth.” — Shirley Chisholm. 