Board Candidates
When deciding on board members, schools are often seeking people who can reach out to district voters and present an overall vision for the school, which will help them achieve their goals. They are also seeking individuals with relevant experience in areas such as business, law as well as insurance/managed healthcare, education medical, finance/banking marketing, real estate and information technology.
Candidates for the board can be nominated by the nomination committee or from the floor during open nominations. The nomination committee must interview candidates to determine if they are a good person for the position, and if they have the required qualifications and skills. The committee should also consider the diversity of the candidates, and the candidate’s commitment to the cause of the organization.
The process of nomination should include a discussion of the expectations for board members, including their level of financial contribution as well as participation in fundraising. professional guidance regarding the school’s governance. This should be documented with an official letter to be requested by new members.
It is important to allow write-ins during an election for any candidates that weren’t nominated. This allows for more accurate representation of voter preferences and also eliminates the Ballot Order Effect, where voters tend to favor candidates who are at the top of the list. It is also beneficial to include an “Abstain from voting” option to deter voters from deciding to vote for candidates who don’t align with school ideals.