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School Boards Long Locally Focused And Nonpartisan Get Sfgate

Leo Migdal
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school boards long locally focused and nonpartisan get sfgate

The former school board member and scholar of educational leadership sees this shift having the potential to disrupt the important work of nonpartisan school boards in communities across the nation In more than 90% of U.S. public school districts, school board elections are nonpartisan and have been for centuries, Kathleen Knight Abowitz, professor of Educational Leadership, writes. “But that long tradition may well be changing – and putting at risk the quality of the country’s education system by introducing divisive national political issues into the process by which a local community... As a former school board member in Ohio and a scholar of educational leadership, Knight Abowitz sees this shift having the potential to disrupt the important work of nonpartisan school boards in communities across... Read her article “School boards, long locally focused and nonpartisan, get dragged into the national political culture wars” in The Conversation (June 3).

Professor of Educational Leadership, Miami University Kathleen Knight Abowitz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic... Miami University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. In more than 90% of U.S. public school districts, school board elections are nonpartisan and have been for centuries. But that long tradition may well be changing – and putting at risk the quality of the country’s education system by introducing divisive national political issues into the process by which a local community...

At present, nine states have passed legislation that enables school board races to be partisan. Four states provide for board elections that have partisan affiliations listed on the ballot; another five states permit districts to choose nonpartisan or partisan races. Bills introduced in six states in 2023 would require or permit school board candidates to declare party affiliations on the ballot. Justin de Benedictis-Kessner, Harvard Kennedy School Ryan Summers, University of North Dakota Kathleen Knight Abowitz, Miami University

Justin de Benedictis-Kessner, Harvard Kennedy School Suzanne Eckes, University of Wisconsin-Madison The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of boards of education, provides training, advocacy and support to advance public education and promote the achievement of all students through effective governance. Our services help you carry out your responsibilities, tackle tough challenges, and realize the rewards of successful boardsmanship. Whether you are a new board member looking to bolster your skills or a veteran seeking to help others, the New Jersey School Boards Association offers ways to get involved. One of them is by joining an NJSBA committee.

NJSBA represents the interests of local boards of education wherever key decisions are made—in the state Legislature, in Congress, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion. Your field service representative (FSR) is a wonderful resource and your district’s primary point of contact with NJSBA. Volunteers campaign for Tammy Shamburger for a district school board office during an NAACP voter drive on Nov. 1, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. Octavio Jones/Getty Images by Kathleen Knight Abowitz, Miami University

In more than 90% of U.S. public school districts, school board elections are nonpartisan and have been for centuries. But that long tradition may well be changing – and putting at risk the quality of the country’s education system by introducing divisive national political issues into the process by which a local community... At present, nine states have passed legislation that enables school board races to be partisan. Four states provide for board elections that have partisan affiliations listed on the ballot; another five states permit districts to choose nonpartisan or partisan races. Bills introduced in six states in 2023 would require or permit school board candidates to declare party affiliations on the ballot.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools board discusses a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war on Jan. 17, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. AP Photo/Joey Cappelletti Voting in this country is a right and for some, it was a hard-fought one to win. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, stated that voting rights could not be “denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”... It wasn’t until 1920 that women were granted that right…just over one hundred years ago.

Today, Americans of all races, ethnicities, and genders are afforded the right to vote, though some still face barriers that make voting more challenging. In New Jersey, mail-in ballots and early voting help to remove some of those barriers by expanding voters’ options for exercising that most sacred right. Voters sometimes face another barrier when they don’t have enough information about the people running. To make an informed decision at the polls, voters need to understand who the candidates are and what they represent. All too often, local races like the Board of Education are skipped in the voting booths because voters simply don’t have the information they need. The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University has collaborated with local news outlets to bring voter education guides to New Jersey communities, focused on Board of Education races.

They provided a questionnaire that The Clifton Times shared with all five candidates. For each of the next few days, we will publish an article that tackles one or two categories and highlights all five candidates’ responses for easy comparison. Responses will be in the candidates’ words, as entered, with light editing for spelling as needed. Each day we will alter the order in which their responses are listed. This article will cover the candidates’ personal and public service backgrounds. Judith Bassford Personal Background: I have over 17 years of experience as a self-employed professional and I currently work as a Compliance Analyst for a fiscal intermediary and compliance company.

My background in education includes serving as an advocate for children with special needs since 2006, providing support and guidance to ensure they receive appropriate educational opportunities and services. CLIFTON — This year's school board race has five candidates: three incumbents with years of experience and two Generation Z challengers. The five are vying for three three-year open seats. The incumbents are Judy Bassford, Lucy Danny and Alan Paris, and the Gen Z challengers are Cameron Hebron and Alias Ragsdale. Bassford has been on the board for 13 years and has served four terms. She has served as vice president of Communities Against Substance Abuse, which organizes Project Graduation, and works for Public Partnerships' Personal Preference Program.

She was named the New Jersey School Boards Association member of the year in 2019 and is an avid advocate for students with special needs. Danny has served on the board for 13 years and four terms and is the board's current vice president. She also served as board president. She has been a world history teacher for 23 years in Paramus. Danny is a Fulbright scholar and a published educational author. She earned a doctorate in educational leadership and has received numerous New Jersey school board certifications.

She participated in revamping the state's educational evaluation system. "All this helps me make decisions on the board," she said.

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The former school board member and scholar of educational leadership sees this shift having the potential to disrupt the important work of nonpartisan school boards in communities across the nation In more than 90% of U.S. public school districts, school board elections are nonpartisan and have been for centuries, Kathleen Knight Abowitz, professor of Educational Leadership, writes. “But that long...

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At present, nine states have passed legislation that enables school board races to be partisan. Four states provide for board elections that have partisan affiliations listed on the ballot; another five states permit districts to choose nonpartisan or partisan races. Bills introduced in six states in 2023 would require or permit school board candidates to declare party affiliations on the ballot. ...

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NJSBA represents the interests of local boards of education wherever key decisions are made—in the state Legislature, in Congress, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion. Your field service representative (FSR) is a wonderful resource and your district’s primary point of contact with NJSBA. Volunteers campaign for Tammy Shamburger for a district school board office during an NAACP voter...