SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES GATHER FOR TRAINING

Candidates for boards of education across the state gathered at 29 locations Thursday to learn more about the job of a school board member.

Cape Girardeau board member Kathy Swan and Oak Ridge board president Jeff Hahs were among the board members serving on the teleconference panel.

Area candidates participated in the conference at Oak Ridge School.

She discussed the relationship between a school board and the superintendent.

Thursday's teleconference was sponsored by the Missouri School Boards Association.

The organization sponsors this teleconference yearly for candidates.

"They receive input from veteran board members about what it's like," Swan said.

"We are hoping to help the candidate hit the ground running after the election."

Swan said she hoped to explain to the candidates that a good relationship between the board and the superintendent is crucial.

"A poor relationship is a huge stumbling block for any school district," she said. "Our time and energy is limited -- both the superintendent and the school board members. If we spend that time and energy on disagreements and working against each other, we will not have time and energy to help build the school and deal with problems."

She added that it's important for a school board to speak with one voice in directing the superintendent.

"In normal jobs you have one supervisor. Imagine having seven. We are seven distinct, different people with different backgrounds, except when we meet as a board. But the superintendent cannot answer to seven different people but one board."

"The school board member has the ultimate responsibility of educating himself on how school districts function, what are the roles and duties of superintendents and what his role is," Swan said.

Successful school board candidates will be required to complete 16 hours of training within the first year, under Missouri's new education law, Senate Bill 380.

"I think that is an excellent idea," said Swan.

The MSBA is stepping in to provide this training.

Swan has received training from the MSBA through the Certified Board Member program.

Swan was among graduates of the advanced certification program's inaugural class and was the only one from Southeast Missouri.

"We are trying to educate as many board members as possible," Swan said. "This will help us do our job much easier."