School Board Candidates

It may be hard to imagine, but some people run for school board to “get rid of someone” or because they have a personal agenda they wish to fulfill. Serving on an Arkansas school board is serious business. In fact, tougher state accountability laws and rules can result in removal from office of entire school boards.

School boards in Arkansas are expected to:

• Understand and approve the district budget
• Review and approve prepared financial statements
• Approve the annual audit
• Share responsibility for fiscal accountability, facilities and student academic achievement
• Obey state laws regarding nepotism and doing business with the school district (self-dealing)
• Meet high ethical standards
• Transact business as a group in a legally called session
• Comply with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA handbook linked here)

In 2009 the Legislature updated the statute that sets out the powers and duties of Arkansas school board members when it approved HB 1940, which was signed on April 7 by Gov. Mike Beebe. The bill, now Act 1180, is linked here. Board members should read and be familiar with this new language. The ASBA Handbook serves as a useful reference for board members in Arkansas.

To be eligible to run for a school board position, you must be a qualified voter residing in the school district – and in the respective zone if members are elected from zones – and you may not be an employee of the district (a family member employed by the district does not disqualify you from running for office).

For information on school board elections and what you need to do to run for school board, click the link “School Board Elections” in the box at right.