Analysis

School Board Members Skew Older But Are Ideologically Balanced

Nearly half of school board members (44 percent) were aged 65 years or older, while just 18 percent were under 45. Given that older members are unlikely to have children still in school, many board decisions may be made by individuals without direct, immediate experience of the current school system, potentially influencing priorities and perspectives on education issues. When it comes to ideology and political affiliation, however, board members are well-balanced, with nearly one-third each identifying as liberal, moderate, and conservative.

Board Members Trust the School Board System

A majority of board members have very positive views of their board, describing its performance as “good” or “excellent,” saying it engages in Maine Policy Institute’s school board best practices, and that it makes good decisions. When they have questions about school board operations and policy, a majority turn to the superintendent’s office or their board’s chair, and a third turn to the Maine School Management Association or Maine School Board Association. These findings suggest that most board members broadly trust the school board system and are not concerned about transparency, accountability, or other structural issues.

Most Are Concerned About the Same Issues

Regardless of political ideology, board members rank mental health, behavior, staffing, academics, funding, and building conditions as top issues. In particular, the number of students with mental health issues, bullying and harassment, chronic absenteeism, and teacher shortages consistently reveal themselves to be top issues, garnering 80 percent or more concerned or somewhat concerned. The universal prioritization of these issues indicates that board members are united in their commitment to addressing the challenges impacting student well-being and educational quality.

Liberals and Conservatives are Polarized on Culture War Issues

When it comes to culture war issues, liberal and conservative board members are highly polarized and have little in common. For instance, over 75 percent of conservative board members were concerned or somewhat concerned about students gender transitioning without parental knowledge, teachers bringing their politics into the classroom, and diversity, equity, and inclusion being emphasized over academic excellence, while less than 20 percent of liberal board members expressed concern over such issues.

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