Gothold is the San Diego County superintendent of schools. He lives in San Diego County.
With nearly 6 million students enrolled in K-12 schools in California, education plays a huge role in shaping the economic, social and political culture. The diverse population of students who attend urban, suburban and rural schools mirror society. Many live in poverty, some are surrounded by extreme wealth. Some are homeless or in foster care. And there are students with physical and mental disabilities. Many go to church on Sunday, some to temple on Saturday, some pray five times a day and many not at all. No matter their identity, it’s our responsibility to ensure each child has access to a fair and equitable education and thrives in a system that prepares them for careers and life.
We’ve all seen videos or heard stories about raucous public school board meetings. Whether it’s about banning books, choosing curriculum or creating inclusive policies — schools and boards are under the microscope. In the era of social media where the loudest voice gets the most attention, some may think all school board meetings have descended into chaos. However, it’s worth stepping back to get the big picture. The 42 school districts in San Diego County play an important role in our educational ecosystem. For the most part, you rarely hear about a board meeting. So what’s going on?
We have three tiers of education in California: the California Department of Education, county offices of education and local school districts. The California Department of Education sets the policies and standards for the state. County offices of education review plans and support their local districts. Those districts are run by nonpartisan school boards that create local policies that align with the state and are suited to meet the needs of their communities. There are more than 1,000 local school districts in California, each responsible for navigating a complex web of responsibilities that focuses on the best interests of students and reflects the values of the diverse voices they represent.
If you only watch or read the news, or glance at social media posts, you’d think local boards of education were the Wild West. Yes, there are legitimate concerns being voiced. However, they’ve only recently become so politicized. Sure, schools have created some controversies, and school boards have long been a steppingstone to higher elected offices. Today many people use local school boards to sow discord when we should use them to shape a brighter future for every student. The success of our schools hinges on school boards’ ability to listen, understand and respond to the needs of the communities they serve.
If it seems like people across the state and country are fighting over the same thing, it’s because there are coordinated political efforts to bring these issues to board meetings. To create real change, these groups should go to the California Department of Education and to state lawmakers and advocate to change state law. While more effective, that doesn’t garner the same reactions and coverage as a local school board.
The reality is that some people are making some school board meetings more contentious. When you consider how big the system is, we’re doing a good job carrying out what we’re supposed to do. Schools and districts should be engaging parents and community members. Done right, our school board meetings should run smoothly because parents are engaged throughout the year and aren’t coming to the board meetings to express their anger at a decision point. In a perfect world, board meetings would consist of boring reports because of open communication. And that’s what we see most of the time.
Our school boards should be opening minds, not closing doors. When we have issues, we need to address them properly. We can disagree, and even have polar opposite beliefs; still, we must treat each other with the dignity and respect the human condition deserves. We need to model good behavior — for our kids and for each other. We must do more listening and less shouting. We need to remember that a democracy isn’t just about majority rule. Our board members should be socially conscious leaders who speak up for those without a voice.
As you prepare to spend time with loved ones over the holidays, I ask you to do this: If you have kids in school and you’re happy with their education, tell your friends and neighbors. If you don’t have kids, ask your friends and neighbors with students in the local district what’s happening there. What’s really important to them about their schools? I’m willing to bet you will hear most families are very happy with their local schools. Step inside a school building, look around, ask questions. If you’re still uneasy, talk to the school staff, then talk to the board. I think you’ll find listening and talking accomplishes much more than yelling. And I think your perception of education may change for the better.
