Your vote matters, and especially when you think about the school in your neighborhood. You can “MAC” it work for you in three ways:
- Money
- Accountability
- Curriculum
M: Money
How is the pot of money they control being spent?
Local, state and federal taxes source the school board’s budget.6 When the board receives this money, they allocate it to salaries for the employees and staff. Clarity is needed as to how the salary money is allocated. Moreover, it may behoove a community member to understand what is behind the saying “cost per student” and this allocation of funds. If clarity is not given, or there seems to be hidden agendas present, then it is time for communities to request increased accountability.
A: Accountability
Are they holding to what they say?
We want our students and our neighborhoods to thrive. Therefore our students must be thriving. Since local school boards do not report to the state board for accountability, their only accountability source is the local voters in that community. As previously mentioned, the primary objective of a school board is to guarantee that every student has a route to achievement. One would hope that the members would reflect the desires of the community.
The most significant measure of accountability lies in the nomination and election of school board representatives who align with the community's aspirations, or in the removal of those board members who disregard the desires and concerns of the populace.6 And this means the community is aware of and accepts the curriculum taught.
C: Curriculum
What are the students learning?
What are pupils learning, what should they studying, and what is the reason behind their studies? Approval of the curriculum taught to our students is a crucial part of a school board’s role. While the state board of education sets standards that must be met, the school board can take or leave what the superintendent recommends. This is vital when it comes to understanding what students are learning.
It should be clear and understandable what children are learning in a local school or district. Also, how easy is it to discuss this in open forums?
Educational resources, teaching methods in curriculum implementation, and each student's performance should be readily available for parents and the community to discuss. Understanding the content, methods and rationale behind the curriculum is crucial. If there’s resistance, it might signal the need for increased engagement and participation.
School board elections typically have a low turnout.7 It is the obligation of that community to replace wayward board members with those who do not view schools as an opportunity to promote radical political activism. This means community members must get involved with their local school board. Each election cycle provides parents and the community with a chance to recalibrate if education in their locality is not progressing as desired. This is where the saying, "'MAC' it work for you," comes from.
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