The foundations of your school board position

Welcome to Moms for America School Board Training Module 1, during this module you will learn the basics to your school board position. School boards are elected or appointed to represent their community while ensuring the students served by your district get the academically challenging education and excellence they deserve.  Throughout this section of our training you will learn and practice legal and ethical conduct that ensures you will be a successful school board representative that holds your district accountable to the public. As always please send us any questions or comments you have about this content.

MODULE ONE OUTLINE

A. Preparing for your school board position
B. What to expect at your first meeting
C. Your Oath of Office
D. Become very knowledgeable about “Robert’s Rules of Order”
E. Become knowledgeable about your district bylaws and policies
F. Know the laws in your state that pertain to your position
G. School Board Job Description
H. Code of Conduct
I. Sunshine Law
– Open Meetings Act
– Open Records Act
– Executive Session
J. Additional Compensation
K. Influencers to the Board
L. Know your rights and responsibilities
M. Forming Board Committees
N. Making motions and writing resolutions

>> VIEW MODULE ONE RESOURCES

Preparing for success

Welcome to our training Module 2. In this module you will learn some of the nuts and bolts to achieving accountability in your district.  While the district may focus on the management of the capital investments and the personnel, you should be laser focused on how this organization operates. This includes how it could be more efficient, deliver better academic opportunities and outcomes as well as how it can be accountable and transparent to the community it serves. As you become familiar with the formal and informal structure of your district, you will better understand the input from your citizens and others outside your district.

MODULE TWO OUTLINE

A. “Organizational Chart”.
B. Communicating with your community.
C. What is “Transparency”?
D. “Children First Budgeting”.
E. Understanding your negotiated agreements.
F. School board relationships with outside organizations.
G. Legal counsel and memberships.
H. Community input at board meetings.
I. School Choice.
J. Reasons to Avoid School Based Health Clinics.
K. Real Estate Taxes.

>> VIEW MODULE TWO RESOURCES

When results matter

Your school board position holds many responsibilities.  This module will assist you in finding your district academic and financial details. You will need to use the academic and financial details you gather and communicate them to the community you serve as well as to the district personnel. Once you communicate the details of the academic and financial status of your district you will need your board to take action to remedy any academic or financial problems. 

This module teaches you about student and parental rights which must be protected by you and your district.  Use this information to keep your district personnel and board members informed about the rights of the people they serve.

MODULE THREE OUTLINE

1. District goals that put the students first – you are responsible to set the district direction.
   – Finding and using district financial records
   – Stop education wasteful spending
   – Finding and using district academic achievement records
   – Minimum competencies to progress to the next grade
   – Cut scores performance level recommendations
2. Protecting student rights
   – Curriculum
   – Student Surveys
   – History
   – Social Emotional Learning
   – Critical Race Theory
   – Sexualization
   – Equity versus equality
3. Protecting parents’ rights
   – Parents’ rights are being eroded – can they be restored?
   – Opt out forms
4. School Board functions and culture
   – School Board Functions and Culture
   – When Our Schools Become the Community Center
5. Deceptive Legislation
   – Legislative Watch
   – Bills/Laws Protecting Children

Current and emerging issues

Throughout Module 4 you will learn the details about the listed subjects that the district may not want you to know.  The details listed in this module will give you more information to share with your community, your fellow board members, and your district personnel.

MODULE FOUR OUTLINE

1. Student Health Issues
2. Open Campuses
3. Universal Preschool and all-day Kindergarten
4. Teacher Tenure
5. Masks, quarantine and vaccinations – the money
6. Dangerous Education Programs
7. Working Towards Unity
8. State Laws that Put Kids First
9. Brief History of the US Department of Education
10. Student Safety
11. Curriculum Problems

Communicating with your community is a large part of your job. Do not let anyone tell you to forward community comments, suggestions, or complaints to your district administrative staff.  If you feel that the community member simply needs to know who to go to then send the link to your district published organizational chart.  Most community members will reach out because they have already tried to be heard by the district staff and did not get resolve.  It is your job to get the details to the questions so that you may understand if an issue exists and if a policy needs to be changed to remedy the issue.

Trusted Resources

This section is a valuable resource to help you find reliable and trusted resources of information and tools to use while you represent your community by being on the school board. Many people and organizations will try to influence your actions as a school board member.  Your ability to filter this input will help you accomplish your goals of holding your district accountable to the community they serve.

1. What do experts say?
2. List of Trusted Organizations