Get SEATed

The state superintendent of education recently suggested that school board members have limits to the number of times that they can serve.  He also wants to get rid of their monthly salary.  I’m in favor of both proposals. 

Around here, the politics run thick and some board members have been in place for many years.  How can we have change when it’s the same ol’ thing time after time?  Sure, the people keep voting them in, but it’s because they’re so firmly entrenched, anyone running against them doesn’t stand much of a chance. 

I don’t know exactly what the salary for board members is, but anything is too much.  All of these people have their “day jobs” so why not give up that paycheck for the time spent working to “better” the schools?

Another thing that I’ve never understood is why it isn’t a requirement that school board members have some experience in the field of education.  On our local school board, there are two or three (out of nine) who have been in the classroom.  The rest have no idea what it’s like.  How can they properly run a school system if they have no experience with what goes on within the system? 

Is this the same situation around the country?  What are your thoughts or experiences with your local school board?