Board Candidates
When choosing board members, schools are typically looking for people who can connect with district voters and provide an overall vision for the school to help them achieve their goals. They are also looking for people with relevant experience in areas such as business, law insurance/managed care, education as well as finance/banking, real estate, marketing and information technology.
Candidates for the board can be selected by a nomination committee, or from the floor during the open my explanation nominations. The committee for nominations should interview prospective candidates to determine whether they are suitable to the board and possess the required skills and experience for the job. The committee should also take into account diversity and the candidate’s commitment to the cause of the organization.
The process of nomination should include a discussion regarding the expectations of board members, for example, their financial contributions, participation in fundraising, and professional advice regarding the management of the institution. This should be documented with a letter that is asked of all new members.
During an election, it is important to allow for write-ins of candidates who didn’t get nominated. This will ensure a true representation of the voters’ preferences and eliminates the Ballot Order Effect where voters tend to favor candidates at the top of the ballot. In addition, it is useful to have an “Abstain” option on the ballot to help in preventing the vote for a person that does not align with the school’s ideals.
