WHERE TO TURN?
Your
School Trustees
By Beth Markley I
f there is one thing parents likely learned from the Students Come First debates in the Idaho Legislature in 2011, it is that they have a voice. At
the same time, policy makers learned that parents want to provide input on important issues and can rally en masse to show their support of or opposition to a plan or action. Except in the case of such potentially
high-impact statewide legislation, however, parents should consider sharing their input at the district level as the more produc- tive option, says Julie Hart, communica- tion director with the Idaho School Board Association. “If you have an idea or an issue, always
go to your local trustees first,” Hart said, noting that sometimes parents think they’ll get better results if they proceed further up the chain of command, such as to the State Board of Education or their legislator. Idaho’s 115 school districts are gov-
erned by a total of 560 publicly elected trustees. Hart says that under Idaho Code, school boards are responsible for everything at the district level, including setting the school day schedule and school holidays; developing the budget; negotiating salaries; purchasing equipment; changing textbooks; establishing policies, bylaws, rules, and regu-
lations; and establishing the administrative procedures to close schools. Local school boards decide when to take disciplinary action, such as expelling a student. They’re also responsible for identifying when to organize a levy vote. When parents want to effect local
change and know their perspective is heard and that their input has the greatest impact, Hart said there is no better place to start than with contacting local trustees. Trustees are elected in a nonpartisan
race and are charged with representing the decisions of the board in its entirety, rather than their own opinions as individuals. But Hart says it is contact with individual trust- ees that allows parents to have the biggest influence in their local districts. “Every school board trustee has what’s
best for the student as his core value,” Hart said, “rather than what is in the best interest of the faculty or the district.” Trustees aren’t paid for serving their
two-year terms, nor are they beholden to an association or membership. Hart says these facts give weight to their words when trust- ees are speaking with representatives of the state board or the Idaho Legislature. “Honestly, parents would have the most success in explaining what they feel is a bad
14 TREASURE VALLEY FAMILY MAGAZINE | March 2012
rule or policy by going local. Know your local trustee,” Hart said. “It’s easier to get things done. When people are passionate about things, they tend to want to go state- wide, but really, things happen at the local level.”
Hart said that if parents are not having
success in going to local trustee meetings, this is the time to bring the issue to the school boards association, or the state super- intendent or state board of education. The Idaho State Board of Education
functions relative to local school district boards in the way the federal government functions relative to state legislatures. The State Board sets and maintains certain rules and policies and it’s up to the school districts to implement them in a way that meets their district’s need. Idaho school board trustees are very
active in communicating with their state representatives, Hart said. The Idaho School Board Association hosts an annual day at the legislature to help educate and inform legis- lators and trustees, encouraging each trustee to become familiar with how the House and Senate Education Committees function and meet directly with legislators. Hart said that she doesn’t expect much activity to happen with regard to education
EDUCATION & SCHOOLS
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