Board of Education Responses, Post 5

Response number five comes from Dr. Zaneb K. Beams:

Question, "What do you think the job of a Board of Education member is?" Please address the following:

1. What power does the position convey?

2. What is the best use of that power?

3. To whom is the Board of Education member responsible?

The Board of Education (BOE) "is responsible for setting local education policy consistent with state and federal laws governing public education." (www.hcpss.org) A BOE member should use their position to ensure optimal education, creating the best available learning and development environment for all learners. That means working to craft policies that address the needs of every child, teacher, and staff, in every school, in every corner of our great county.

Any power conveyed by the position represents the voice of voters. Elected leadership is responsible to constituents- students, their families, teachers, staff, and administrators. A BOE member should reflect these stakeholder voices. The power inherent to the position is an opportunity for leadership in shaping the nature and quality of education.

The BOE is part of the governing body for our schools, one that can check and balance leaders and stakeholders. Federal, state and local legislators, the superintendent, teachers, and administrative staff, and families, impact the BOE’s work. We Americans enjoy a dynamic, flexible, government with features creating stability and longevity. “Checks and Balances” are an important aspect of this design. The Board of Education should be seen as a policy engine that supports, and presents checks and balances to, all stakeholders in the schools.

BOE members set educational policy, representing all stakeholders, to create the best learning environment for all. Howard County can achieve world class education in every school, for every learner, if we prioritize appropriate paths to policy and procedure, to ensure we serve all stakeholders.

April 13, 2014 1:44 pm

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