The voters in each local district elect a school board to serve as trustees on their behalf—to assure students receive a high quality education and that taxpayers receive a good return on their investment.
Vermont's nearly 900 public school board members face significant challenges. They must ensure all children receive substantially equal educational opportunities while addressing complex societal issues like mental health and food insecurity. Coupled with declining enrollment and rising costs, their task is daunting. Yet, these challenges also present a unique opportunity for board members to profoundly impact students' education—a cornerstone of Vermont's economic, social, and democratic success. Creative, strategic, and results-driven leadership is essential for supporting Vermont's students and communities.
Get on Board! The Power of Local Educational Governance
What Prospective School Board Members Should Know
Thinking About Running?
(print ready brochure)
Hard copies are also available upon request.
Please email acallan@vtvsba.org
School boards create the vision for education, establish policy for the district, hire a superintendent, approve the budget for presentation to voters, and monitor student performance, district policies, and finances. Board members engage the community in their work. Put simply—the board sets the direction, hires competent administrators, and provides high level oversight to assure high performance and accountability.
The Right Person Makes a Difference
What qualities, skills, and experience should a school board member have?
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A big picture thinker: setting the direction (vision) for the district with input from the community.
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A commitment to fulfilling a governance role, not that of day-to-day management.
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A willingness to consider a broad range of school district issues, not just a single issue.
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Understands they can legally act as a board member only when the board is in session.
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Is a good listener and yet, doesn’t make commitments without the will of the board.
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Upholds the “whole board” principle–that no single person can act or speak for the board.
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Is able to support a decision when it is made, even if they voted against it.
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Keeps in mind the best interests of the school district, even in the face of opposition.
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Remembers that board business often requires confidentiality, especially in processes involving students, personnel, negotiations and security.
School Board Eligibility
A legal voter in a school district shall be eligible for election to the board of that district. However. a person is not eligible to hold office if the individual is:
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Under the age of 18.
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Not a resident in the school district in which the individual is seeking office.
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A resident of an unorganized town, grant or gore.
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Regularly employed by the supervisory union they serve or by a school district within the supervisory union.
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The holder of a simultaneous position as an auditor, first constable, collector of taxes, town treasurer, town agent or town manager.*
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Married to the town auditor. *
Invest in our future
* If a school district prepares and reports its budget independently from the budget of the town and the school district is audited by an independent public accountant, a school director or spouse of a school director is eligible to hold office as auditor, town treasurer, or assistant town treasurer.
How to Become a School Board Candidate
Australian Ballot Districts*
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Submit a petition with the lesser of 30 signatures or one percent of the legal voters of the district to the municipal clerk by 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election. For unified union, union elementary, and union high school districts using either the modified at-large or at-large representation model, candidates must submit a petition with the lesser of 60 signatures or one percent of the legal voters in the district. Please check with the municipal clerk to confirm the number of signatures required.
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A candidate may launch a write-in campaign if the date for submitting petitions has passed.
Town Meeting Districts
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Nominated from the floor at the meeting
*School districts with charters may have different petition requirements.
Each year as part of a campaign “Get on Board!”, the VSBA holds a live webinar for members of the public interested in becoming a school board candidate in their district. This event includes a general overview of the school board’s essential work and guides viewers through the process of filing and running for a seat. A panel of school board members shares their experience and provides advice about running and serving.
For additional information about running for a school board seat or school board service more generally, please contact Debbie Singiser at dsingiser@vtvsba.org.