Why School Board Elections Matter
There is still time to run for a School Board!
If an incumbent does not run for a school board position, there is still time to apply. The deadline is 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 12, when you must file a Declaration of Candidacy and a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700). A petition with 20-40 signatures is also required only for the County Board of Education positions. See Candidate Handbook pages 15-18.
School Boards with the expanded filing period to August 12
- Tuolumne County Board of Education: Trustee Areas 1, 4, 6, 7
- Columbia Union School District
- Curtis Creek School District
- Jamestown School District
- Sonora Union High School District: Area 2
- Soulsbyville School District
- Summerville Elementary School District
- Summerville Union High School District
Why School Board Elections Matter
An informed community begins with informed voters.
When election season arrives, it’s easy to focus on races for Congress, governor, or county offices. Yet some of the most important decisions affecting our children, the local economy, and our quality of life are made by elected school board members. These positions may not receive much media attention, but they deserve every voter’s consideration. This year, many of us will have the opportunity to elect members to our local school boards.
Local Leadership That Shapes the Future
School board members are entrusted with governing one of a community’s most valuable assets: its public schools. A local school board establishes the district’s vision, adopts policies, approves budgets, oversees facilities, hires and evaluates the superintendent, and ensures that resources are being used to support student success. Board members also make decisions about long-term planning, fiscal responsibility, labor agreements, and educational priorities.
School board decisions influence everything from financial stewardship and facility improvements to career technical education, student safety, and partnerships with local employers. While they do not manage the day-to-day operations of schools, they set the direction and provide oversight that impacts students, parents, teachers, staff, and the community for years to come.
School board members are volunteers who serve because they care deeply about public education and the well-being of their communities. State law requires candidates to be at least 18 years old, a California citizen, a registered voter, and a resident of the district they wish to represent.
School District Boards vs. County Boards of Education
A common misconception is that local school district boards and the Tuolumne County Board of Education perform the same job. They do not.
Each school board governs one of the eleven individual school districts in Tuolumne County. Its decisions directly affect the schools within that district, including budgets, facilities, personnel, educational programs, and strategic planning.
The County Board of Education, on the other hand, provides governance for the County Office of Education. It oversees county-operated programs, such as alternative education, juvenile court schools, and many special education services. The County Board also hears certain student appeals (e.g., expulsion hearings and inter-district transfer requests), approves district boundary changes, and provides regional leadership and oversight for educational services that extend beyond any single district.
Both boards play critical roles in California’s educational system.
Why Should Someone Run?
Healthy communities benefit when school boards reflect a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Outstanding board members come from many walks of life. Some are parents. Others are business owners, retirees, healthcare professionals, veterans, nonprofit leaders, civic volunteers, or people who have never held public office before. What they share is a commitment to thoughtful leadership, sound decision-making, and putting students first.
Serving on a school board is an opportunity to:
- Help shape the future of public education.
- Ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
- Support safe, high-quality learning environments.
- Strengthen partnerships between schools and the community.
- Leave a legacy for future generations.
You need not be an educator to serve effectively. Good governance depends on listening, asking thoughtful questions, studying the issues, and making decisions based on facts and the best interests of students.
Why Every Voter Should Care
Even if you don’t have children in school, local schools affect your daily life more than you may realize. Strong schools attract families and businesses to our county, contribute to higher property values, prepare tomorrow’s workforce, and strengthen the overall health of a community.
Surprisingly small margins often decide these elections. In many communities, just a handful of votes can determine who serves on the board and guides educational policy for the next four years.
And if you’ve ever thought, “Someone should step up and help,” consider whether that someone could be you. Strong schools need thoughtful leaders. Thoughtful leaders come from engaged communities. Our students, our families, and our future all benefit when citizens participate in the decisions that shape public education.
The next generation depends on us.