School Board Accountability
“The real problem lies in accountability of the elected board to their constituents” says an involved parent and citizen in British Columbia. She goes on to say: “With your support perhaps the board of trustees can put the needed pressure on the province to secure the future of our schools. Your child only has one chance to get the best education possible and only the constituents—parents—can affect the change needed to protect their future.” (10.02.25 The Boundary Sentinel)
A local opinion: Parents in Edmonton are also concerned about accountability of their school boards to their constituents. The stereotype of apathy may be just that, a stereotype. The governance of education has become a complicated “business”, but school boards ultimately exist to serve parents by being a critical component of their children’s education and are accountable to their constituents to do so efficiently and effectively.
If school boards discuss issues out of the earshot of the public, if school boards consider having intelligible policies that can be reviewed by the public “noise” or interference, if school boards do not exercise the trust we give them and provide thoughtful leadership to the administration of education by obtaining relevant information and asking tough questions—How are they contributing to that one chance our children have to get the best education possible?
School boards are extremely important to the quality of education. Some very busy parents and citizens are stretching their time to learn about the “cost of doing business” in their children’s education and the impact this will have on the quality of education of their children. They have the passion to keep school boards accountable. As some see it, parents and citizens are accountable to their children and the next generation to do so. Apathy is just not an option.