The earlier you begin seriously thinking about running for school board the better.

How much time does it take?

School board service can be wonderfully rewarding. Especially this year, with education at the top of everyone's national and Iowa agenda. The issues -- and possibilities -- are exciting. If you already hold two full-time jobs to make ends meet it's probably not for you. But for many of us it requires little more than giving up some favorite television programs -- a "sacrifice" thought well worth it. The minimum is the time it takes to scan a packet of materials before the meeting, say a half-hour, and the time of the meeting itself, once or twice a month, that usually runs about two hours.

Like anything else, the more you put into it the more you get out of it. That can include reading publications like Education Week and other Internet resources, visiting schools, talking to teachers and parents, and so forth. But none of this is compulsory. On the other hand, your primary compensation will be the satisfaction of your contributions and accomplishments. The job pays nothing, is not all that prestigious, seldom leads to higher elective office, and depending on your profession lends little to your resume. It's a form of service that you have to value for its own sake, what it can contribute to our children and our community.

Anyone over 18 who lives in the District (Coralville, Hills, Iowa City and North Liberty) is eligible to run.

There are seven board members. Each serves three years. There is an election every year, usually about the second Tuesday in September. Thus, every third election year there are three positions; the other two years in the three-year cycle there are two positions.

It is possible to run for re-election, and some Board members do. But few have been re-elected in recent years. And even if a Board member does choose to run for re-election, and is popular, there is no reason not to run against them. No one has a right to be re-elected to the Board.

This year there will be two positions on the ballot. At least one Board member, and possibly two, are not running for re-election.

The minimum needed to run is simple: obtain nomination papers from the Central Administrative Office (509 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City) in time to get 100 signatures and return them by Thursday, August 2nd. (Be sure to confirm that date; it may not be correct.)

Of course, far better is to get the papers as early as possible, get as many signatures as possible ((a) to ensure you have 100 valid signatures, and (b) to begin building your "organization"), and file on the first day possible rather than the last. That will probably be Monday, July 9th. (But, again, confirm that date.) That communicates a measure of your seriousness and "can do" ability, and gives you more time to campaign before the election (probably Tuesday, September 11th).

The Iowa Association of School Boards has a "School Board Service" Web page. Although its approach is somewhat conventional, is in no way binding upon the ICCSD School Board, and is not followed in some ways, it is, nonetheless, a useful resource. It contains the following brief, one page topics:

School Board Authority
Iowa law outlines the legal authority of school boards.

School Board Responsibilities
Providing shared vision, structure, accountability and advocacy are the responsibilities of Iowa school boards.

School Board Member Traits
Effective school board members share some common traits.

Code of Ethics
IASB recommends this Code of Ethics to guide school board members.

Becoming a School Board Candidate
Find out how to become a candidate for election to the school board, including eligibility requirements, nomination procedures and the 2000 election calendar. [Note: This is, therefore, not this year's 2001 calendar.]