What School Boards Do & Why They Matter

When you vote this November, the race furthest down the ballot—the one for school board—could have the biggest impact on your day-to-day life, especially if you have school-aged kids or work in Forsyth County Schools. Our Board of Education (BOE), also known as the School Board, governs our school system, consisting of 54,300+ students and 8,000+ employees.

The School Board has three main powers that have a huge impact on our schools:

1. Hire and fire all staff members, including the Superintendent
   
2. Approve the school budget
   
3. Review, approve and even set school District policy
   

Although the superintendent and his staff manage the day-to-day running of the school system, the School Board oversees it and can overturn anything if it has enough votes. 

Our School Board consists of five people, so if three members vote the same way, they have the ultimate power. It’s important to note that the three moderate members of the school board are not returning in January. They’re either retiring or were defeated by far-right candidates in the primary. That’s why electing our Democratic candidates is so important. They work well together and share the same values of acceptance for all, putting students first, and respecting teachers. They will fight to ensure public funds stay in public schools and that our schools are safe. 
The superintendent often makes recommendations that the BOE has followed or tweaked in the past. However, if far-right candidates have the majority, they may reject his recommendations and lean into culture war issues instead of focusing on what students really need. A majority of three extreme school board members can remove entire items from the budget, terminate employees, and set harmful policies for our students. 
Do Georgia State Senators and House Members Impact Education?
Yes! Our state delegation, comprised of state senators and house members, can propose education-related bills and vote on them. If those bills receive enough votes in the State Senate and State House, they go to Governor Kemp’s desk to sign into law. 
This process happened this past legislative session with Senate Bill 233, the voucher bill. This bill allows parents in “failing” school districts to get reimbursed with public tax money, up to $6500 per child, for homeschooling or sending their children to a private school. This bill allows public money to be used for private schooling.
Similarly, in 2022, Governor Kemp signed the “Protect Students First Act” and a series of “divisive concepts” laws that prevent educators from discussing certain topics with students, such as same-sex marriage, issues of race, and certain historical topics that deal with racism. 
When Republicans have a majority in our state legislature, like they do now, we have to contend with culture war issues becoming law. Once laws are passed, the School Board, superintendent, and lawyers for the school system work together to determine how our schools will comply with them. 
Our local state senators and house members also vote on other education-related issues put forth by lawmakers from across the state of Georgia. Before voting, they often contact the school system to understand how certain legislation would affect us in Forsyth County.
The Federal Government Plays a Role in Education, Too
When the federal government passes laws relating to education or the Department of Education updates an existing law, our local Board of Education, superintendent and school lawyers work on how that will be implemented at the school level. 
This August, new changes to Title IX, which prohibits students and staff members from discrimination, will be mandated by the federal government. The changes include preventing discrimination based on gender identity, so our school system will determine what that looks like locally. 
Government Impact on Education
All levels of government affect education, but our local Georgia State delegation and school board members have the most direct impact on daily decisions, so it’s crucial to vote for Democratic candidates.