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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2016)
60000000000007 Civics Lessons SCHOOL BOARD POWERS AND PLANNING BY AMY KLARUP T board’s choices. It also involves a hefty time commitment, “Much of our budget comes from the state, and we’re he workings of a school district can appear she says. limited in our ability to raise any type of revenue,” mysterious to the uninitiated. School boards “I think last week I had something every night Walston says. most often appear in the public eye when they connected to the school board,” Walston says. “Part of our She adds that some policies are mandated at the state make a controversial decision or take a position role is to be advocates and sponsors and boosters of public or federal level, meaning a local school district doesn’t on something of a political nature, like a ballot education, and it’s important to show up at different have the power to change that policy. measure or federal mandate. school events.” “There’s often federal money involved in our nutrition In its most rudimentary function, a school board sets a Since public schools fall under local, state and federal program, so if we get commodity dollars from the federal school district’s budget, chooses its superintendent and jurisdiction, sometimes school boards get blamed for government, we have to provide so many vegetables and sets policy, but local school board members say there’s a problems they are unable to fix. fruits,” Walston says. “We do it a certain way because lot more to it than that. we’re driven by federal requirements.” “We’re kind of the eyes and ears in the School boards can play a role in community,” says Laurie Adams, a member advocating for students by making of the Springfield School Board. “I feel statements, speaking to legislators and like, in a district of 11,000 kids, you need as School boards are responsible for hiring a superintendent, communicating the needs of their school many eyes as possible out there watching setting the district budget and making policy, district. and seeing what’s going on.” The Springfield School Board earlier this The Springfield School District has five but they don’t have control over everything year took a position on the Smarter Balanced school board members, but many districts standardized test, recommending that have seven, like Eugene School District 4J. that happens in a school district — parents opt their children out of the test. Board members are elected by their “We felt that it wasn’t good for our kids constituents and typically serve four-year to be taking that test,” Adams explains, terms. Most small-district board members adding that the Springfield School Board are not paid, according to the National has also traveled to Washington, D.C., to School Boards Association. speak with legislators and advocate for School board members field questions more education funding. from the public and keep apprised of Walston says the 4J board has played a conversations happening within the district. similar role in lobbying for increased funds, They typically meet every other week especially during Oregon’s legislative sessions. during the school year. Adams tells a story about a parent who contacted her “We’ll be up in Salem in February talking to our “Class size, class size, class size,” says 4J board chair with a complaint about her son’s individual education Legislature to express our concerns about funding for Mary Walson when asked what issue she’s recently heard plan. Adams couldn’t do anything as a board member, she schools,” she says. about from the 4J community. “We all know class sizes explains, but she did reach out to the superintendent, who School boards can offer a dose of realism to the are too large. We’re trying to chip away at it, but we didn’t was able to deal with the problem. legislative process, Walston adds. get here overnight, so we can’t get out of it overnight.” “We can’t handle things at that level, and that’s not our “We advocate for no unfunded mandates,” she Walston says part of being a school board member job,” Adams says. “But we can get it to where it needs to go.” explains. “The ideas can be great, but in Salem, it’s involves “having some thick skin” and acknowledging theory. In 4J, it’s reality.” that not everyone in the community will agree with the School boards also hear complaints about funding. LARGER FUNDING DECISIONS ARE OFTEN MADE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. Asian Food Market Now Featuring Middle Eastern Food & Vegetarian Items Olive Plaza A Caring Retirement Community 1133 Olive St. • viridianmgt.com Phone/(TDD) 541-683-3247 Asian Groceries Seaweed, rice, noodles, frozen products, deli, snacks, drinks, sauces, spices, produce, housewares, and more. 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