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Board of Education Responses, Post 1

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?

 

Thanks to Corey Andrews for getting the ball rolling!

In the simplest terms, the job of a member of the Howard County Board of Education is to provide oversight of the Howard County Public School System. The Board is to provide a "vision," one that is consistent with the will of the people of Howard County, to guide the Superintendent and school system administration. The Board must step in when it sees the school system straying from the goals it has laid out or when it is time to change direction. It is not the Board's job to micro-manage the day-to-day operation of the school system. The Board provides the vision, while the school system administration determines the most effective way to implement it. In cases where an implementation of a policy or program is deemed ineffective or not appropriate by the citizens of the County, the Board shall intervene to provide direction.

Each Board member is accountable to every citizen of Howard County. Therefore, members must be responsive, visible, and open-minded. It is important that we elect people to the Board that are there to represent the citizens and not themselves.

Sunday, April 6, 2:53 PM,

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