How to Research School Board Candidates

School board meetings have been making national news more and more in recent years as the so-called culture war wages on a national scale. You’re here, reading this now, which means that you probably know what is happening on the very small, local scale matters. Your voice has a huge impact in local elections, and your voice deserves to be heard.

But…

Politics from the local to the national level have grown really overwhelming.

Politics from the local to the national level have grown really overwhelming. Topics that were already laced with nuance and often legal jargon that was intentionally confusing are now flying at us faster than any one person can keep up with. So you want to use your voice. But wading through content to figure out what you believe and who will best support that can be daunting, to say the least. And what’s more, while most candidates are individuals running independently with their community in mind, as of late, an increasing number of candidates are being supported by divisive political organizations and dark money. That complicates the equation – not to mention the gathering of information.

DON’T PANIC.

Researching candidates is more important than ever, and we’re here to help you wade through the sea of information to find what matters to you. Understanding a candidate’s priorities, experience, and affiliations can help you make an informed choice and ensure your vote will help support leaders who will truly represent the community’s interests, not a national platform. By learning what to look for and where to find reliable information, you can cast a confident vote for the common-sense leaders who will help safeguard the future of our schools.

What to Look for in a School Board Candidate

Before you begin to research the candidates, it’s important to understand the function and purpose of a school board. Once you do that, you can next move on to considering the topics you care most about in your school district. Are you concerned about new curriculum standards? District growth? Graduation rates? Teacher pay? You’ll want to know where candidates stand on these issues.

You’ll also want to see if you can find out:

• How well do they work with others? Do they work well with a team and do a good job of supporting others, or do they only put themselves in the limelight?
• Do they work to build relationships with the public they serve? Or do they only listen to voices that support their goals?
• Are they professional and respectful?
• Do they respect and appreciate differing points of view? Or are they divisive?
• Are they committed to the work of being on the board? (Attending meetings, visiting schools, etc.) Or do they tend to ignore responsibilities or spread themselves too thin?
• Are they knowledgeable about existing district policies and guidelines? Do they understand the challenges schools are facing and the things they need to be successful?

How to Research a School Board Candidate

To get the answers to all those questions, you’ll want to begin by gathering as much information as possible from a variety of sources. Check official candidate websites or social media pages, local news articles, and publicly available statements or interviews. Pay attention to their stated priorities, policy positions, and affiliations with or endorsements by community organizations, unions, or political groups. Many election offices will provide candidate statements, and you can sometimes find additional information on voter information sites (such as Ballotpedia.org).

Incumbents

Incumbents (current board members) can be researched differently from new challengers because they have a voting record and a history of public service on the board. By reviewing past votes, meeting minutes, and public statements, you can see how they have acted in office and whether their decisions align with the community’s priorities and needs. Incumbents may also have past involvement in budgeting decisions, policy changes, or initiatives that give insight into their approach to leadership.

Challengers

When researching challengers without a voting record, you’ll want to focus on their experience, professional background, community involvement, and stated goals/priorities. Attend meet-and-greets, candidate forums, and other local campaign events whenever possible. These provide an opportunity to hear candidates speak directly, you can ask questions, and evaluate how well they communicate their priorities and engage with the community.

Finally, cross-check information from multiple sources to ensure accuracy, and consider reaching out to local organizations, community groups, or election offices for additional information about candidates. Engaging with candidates (either virtually or in person) not only will help you make an informed decision, but it will also help to strengthen community participation.

At the end of the day, you want to feel confident that the candidates you’re voting for truly believe in the value of public education, are dedicated to serving their community, and understand that their job is to act in the interest of the community.