The duties of school board members range from the small — responding to an email — to the large, like voting to approve a superintendent’s contract. The full scope is too broad to cover exhaustively here, but the sections below address the responsibilities people ask about most.
In support of the goals of school districts as described in RCW 28A.150.210, the primary role of elected school board members, also known as school directors, is to govern the district and represent the community. Though they aren’t involved in the day-to-day operations of schools, they are ultimately accountable to local residents and voters for how well the school district functions.
Bird’s Eye View of Board Member Duties
Looking from a 10,000 foot level, so to speak, three core duties come into view:
- Fortifying the School District: Boards can use WSSDA’s policy and legal products and services to help ensure the legal health of the district.
- Advocating Effectively: Boards need to support lawmakers as they craft legislation impacting public education. WSSDA’s strategic advocacy resources and supports exist for that purpose.
- Growing your Abilities: To accomplish the first two tasks, and become effective leaders, board members need to learn more about the students they serve and the system they govern. WSSDA’s professional development opportunities are crucial supports for school director growth.
Zooming in for a Closer Look
Step one is taking the oath of office. After that, a board member’s duties generally fall into five categories.
Strategic Leadership
School boards set the direction of a district. In other words, they lead and greatly influence the culture and operation of the district. They do it by working together, with input from the local community, to establish the vision, mission, and strategic goals for the school district.
The primary way boards influence district operation is by creating and adopting policies within the bounds of state and federal law. School boards are vested with the responsibility of adopting policies that govern the educational program, district management, student conduct, personnel, and overall operations.
Fiscal Responsibility
School boards oversee the budget. They are responsible for considering and establishing the district’s annual operating budget. This includes making decisions about placing levies and bonds before voters.
School boards ensure accountability within the district. They adopt a system of oversight and accountability that includes monitoring district finances and progress toward financial goals.
See our catalog of school finance trainings.
Executive Oversight
School boards hire and evaluate the superintendent, the board’s only employee. Hiring the superintendent is one of the board’s most consequential decisions, but their responsibility doesn’t stop there. Boards need to have an ongoing process for superintendent evaluation and supervision.
School boards administer personnel decisions by reviewing and approving personnel decisions, including the ratification of contracts with employee bargaining units.
Public Representation
School boards represent their community by acting as a link between the public and school district administration. They provide a forum for public input and are expected to reflect the community’s vision and values. A few examples of boards providing a public forum include regular school board meetings, the curriculum adoption process, town halls related to adopting a strategic plan.
School board’s advocate for their school district, students, and public education as a whole. Through advocacy, they support the Legislature and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in making laws and rules that impact Washington’s public education system.
School boards must hold public meetings. As a governing body, boards must conduct their business in meetings that are open to the public. This responsibility is detailed in Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act.
Fiduciary Responsibility
In Washington state law, school and nonprofit board members have specific fiduciary duties, which include:
- Duty of care: Taking reasonable care when making decisions, using diligence and independent judgment.
- Duty of loyalty: Acting in the best interest of the school district rather than for personal gain.
- Duty of obedience: Ensuring the district complies with all local, state, and federal laws and that the board’s actions align with the district’s mission.
See our catalog of school finance trainings.