Below is a Letter to the Editor of the Mississippi Press as submitted February 3, 2012:
Support the Election of School Boards
Two of Jackson County's state Senators - Tony Smith (R-47) and Michael Watson (R-51) - have co-authored Senate Bill 2190, an act that would require all Mississippi school district Boards of Trustees to be elected and all school superintendents to be appointed by said Board.
This is indeed a much needed change and one that hits home locally.
As it is currently structured, the Pascagoula City Council appoints three members to the Pascagoula Municipal Separate School District Board of Trustees; the citizens of Gautier elect the other two Board members. Once the three members are appointed by the Pascagoula City Council and barring any legal or ethics violations by an appointee, the Council has no governing authority over the appointed members, and until recent years the appointees were routinely reappointed with little question.
It has always baffled me why as citizens we have allowed this structure to stand. Why would we not want to elect our Pascagoula School Board representatives? After all, allowing the public the right to elect these officials would both hold the Board members responsible for their decisions and require the members to listen intently to the public. Removing the buffer of appointment only encourages accountability to the taxpayers.
As a City Councilman, it is curious to appoint someone who isn't legally required to be accountable to your board. One would think if the City Council appointed a member to any board or commission, that member would be responsible and accountable to the Council, but that is not the case with School Board appointees. Often little to no dialogue is required during the members' five year terms.
It also places City Councilmen in a precarious situation when addressing matters related to the school district. Some twist reality and believe the actions of a concerned parent are attempts to insert influence or pressure connected to a position. It inhibits the parent-Councilman from participating in school related dialogue.
There is really no upside for a City Council to appoint School Board members; the process only insulates the School Board from the public.
It is true that electing School Board members could increase the political nature of that board but it also places such wrangling in its appropriate place instead of passing it through to those that should be apolitical, such as Superintendents and other staff within a school district. The politics of our democratic republic is not a bad thing if it gives the public access to a governing body, especially one that is spending your tax dollars and affecting the lives of your children and grandchildren.
Under this bill - SB 2190 - all school districts would be required to hold Board of Trustees elections coinciding with municipal elections, meaning when you vote to elect the City Council, you would also vote to elect School Board members. The School Board's length of term would also be reduced from 5 years to 4 years, bringing it in line with municipal officials. This bill would not affect the Pascagoula School's Superintendent in that the School Board already appoints that position.
The ultimate goal for any School Board is to successfully educate our youth, making them productive, contributing members of society. Giving the taxpayers the opportunity to elect the Board of Trustees would make the processes and policies used to achieve this goal more transparent while increasing accountability and dialogue.
I encourage you to support SB 2190 by contacting the Mississippi Senate Education Committee and your local State Representative and Senator.
Frank Corder
Pascagoula City Councilman
