Leading Through a Political Morass

BOARD-SAVVY SUPERINTENDENT

I used to live in a Texas school district that made national news three years ago. A school district making national news is rarely a good thing. This was no exception.

Two hyper-partisan candidates were elected to the school board, and suddenly nearly every conversation and every vote was a 5-2 split. Multiple board consultants tried to assist them — all to no avail. For two sides in a relationship to reconcile, both parties must be willing to work together.

Split votes by a public governing body are not inherently bad. Consistently split votes on a school board along political lines or deeply held philosophical issues are unhealthy and not in the best interest of children.

This certainly does not mean those in the minority are in the wrong. The problem in the district where I lived wasn’t simply the elected board members, it was with the political action committees that supported their elections. Frequently, incoming board members underestimate the extent to which they feel beholden and conflicted about doing the bidding of those who got them elected.