Before the Votes Are Counted

Each fall, many school boards around Alaska may find themselves looking ahead to a changing board table. Long-serving members are considering life after the school board, new candidates have filed for office, and community members are asking more questions about board service. While formal board orientation appropriately begins after candidates are sworn in, boards do not have to wait until local election day (Oct. 7) to help potential new members understand the work ahead. Creating a welcoming and informative experience for all candidates can make the eventual transition to board service smoother.

First, the Board President or Superintendent can initiate a warm welcome to candidates. Send appreciation for their willingness to serve, acknowledge the importance of school board leadership, and provide a few resources for learning more about the district and the board. The message does not need to be lengthy. Its purpose is simply to say, “We appreciate your interest in serving, and we want you to have good information about the job.” This sample letter from AASB can help with ideas.

Invite candidates to observe the work. School board meetings are public, of course, but a personal invitation can encourage candidates to attend and watch the board in action. Seeing the board deliberate, ask questions, work with the superintendent, and hear from the public provides context that written resource materials cannot fully replicate.

Make your school board basics easy to find. Consider creating a simple candidate resource page or packet that includes the board’s meeting schedule, strategic plan, current budget, superintendent information, organizational chart, and links to recent board agendas and the board’s online policy manual (highlight Article 9 – the board bylaws!). Candidates often enter board service because they care deeply about students or a particular issue, but may not have exposure to the board’s actual governance responsibilities.

Help candidates understand that the job is bigger than individual issues. Many people run for a school board because of one concern that matters deeply to them. But we know that successful board service requires a willingness to move from advocacy for a particular issue to governance on behalf of all students in the district. This can be a delicate conversation as none of us like to think of ourselves as single-issue individuals or having an “agenda.” Boards can help establish expectations early by providing candidates with information about the school board’s key roles, board ethics, the board-superintendent relationship, and the board’s responsibility. Here, too, AASB resources can help. Consider sharing our Guide for School Board Candidates in AK and our Board Roles & Responsibilities booklet. 

Welcoming candidates also sends a message about board culture. It demonstrates that current members value public service, respect the election process, and recognize that healthy boards depend on continually welcoming new people and new ideas into the work. The key is to provide information consistently. A board should not appear to favor, recruit, or endorse one candidate over another. Instead, think about what every candidate should know about school board service in your district and make that information readily available to all.

I encourage you to think of candidate engagement as the first step in onboarding. When boards provide candidates with accessible information and a welcoming introduction to board service, the eventual orientation process can begin at a higher level. 

One final thought: not everyone will prevail in the elections, but everyone who steps forward to run has demonstrated a commitment to serving the district. Candidates should be encouraged to stay involved through committee work, or advocacy efforts, or through seats that may come available on their advisory school boards or site councils. Staying connected helps build their knowledge and build the pipeline for future board leaders. And you may just see them on the ballot again next year!