School Board Elections Statutory Powers & Duties of Local School Boards NMSBA Framework of Responsibilities for Local School Boards Code of Ethics Are You the Best Board Candidate?

FOREWARD A local board of education is a unique American institution that has enabled public schools to be flexible and responsible to local community needs.  In today's society, characterized by the constantly changing mainstream values of the information age, the personal and academic success of our children requires that "community" to be extended to consider the needs of a global constituency.  As frightening and controversial as  that idea has become  to some, the impact  on our  educational system has been even more traumatic.  It demands an unprecedented level of educational leadership that must transcend local politics and special interests and require local governing bodies to have extremely high levels of knowledge, insight and courage.  Anything less will lead to the demise of the representative governing structure as we know it today. The responsibility of a local school board member to understand the needs of all our children, both today and tomorrow, and to plan, direct and evaluate our educational system on their behalf, is so demanding and complex, that only the highest level of excellence in school governance should be acceptable. The NMSBA Board of Directors hopes this booklet will serve to encourage only those candidates who believe "Children First" by clearly defining the importance of being a local school board member.  It is an awesome responsibility. "Being a local board member is like running a marathon, not a 100 yard dash...Can you go the distance?"