How to Encourage School Board Accountability

By Traci Elizabeth Teasley

Dear School Board Member:

Among the many responsibilities that you have, overseeing the vision of a school district that seeks high achievement for all students is the most critical. You must engage the community and support your superintendent in improving the quality of teaching and learning—a goal that is directly correlated with how students perform on local, state, and national assessments. And it should be the core business of a school district. The community expects that you and your fellow school board colleagues will hold each other, the superintendent, the central office, and the school staff accountable for maintaining these standards.

I know, I know, I know, there are redistricting, school-closing, safety, technology, and a barrage of other issues that seem to be more pressing, particularly when the education reporter from the local newspaper comes calling. But given the difficulty of the new learning standards and students' declining performance on assessments, will it matter if your schools are overcrowded? Or if you build new schools and the quality of the instruction is,...