South Tama School Board members with the date of their first term (seated) Jackie Dvorak 1998, Ron Houghton 2017. (Standing) Alan Kline 2013, Penny Tyynismaa, board president, 2015 and Mandy Lekin 2017. Chronicle/John Speer

May is School Board Recognition Month and an opportunity for local schools and communities to honor more than 2,000 locally elected school board members for their dedication to children and schools.

In the South Tama Schools and Iowa Valley Community?College District school board members develop policies and make decisions that impact the entire community.

School Board Member Facts

From: Iowa Association

of School Boards

Iowa Valley Community?College District board members pictured in the IVCCD Administration Building are (from left) Delbert Kellogg, Deborah Jones, Larry Johnson, Joanna Hofer, Paul Pohlson, Deborah Crosser, and Chris Brodin. -Iowa Valley photo

Role of School Board Members

Board members are locally elected, non-salaried public officials entrusted with the task of providing the direction for the education of students across Iowa.

The board of education is a uniquely American institution, dating from the earliest days of our country. It has made public schools flexible and responsive to local community needs.

Today, public schools are being asked to raise the bar of academic achievement, while remaining good stewards of the public’s investment in education.

That demands sound knowledge in several key areas, including leadership, school improvement, school finance, advocacy and more, while keeping student achievement as the board’s primary focus.

Iowa school board members represent a continuing commitment to local citizen decision-making in public education. Each week, they donate their personal time in service to Iowa students.

Iowa has 333 school districts with five or seven member school boards. School board members are elected by their local communities in an election held the second Tuesday of November in odd-numbered years. They may be elected at large or from director districts and serve four-year terms.

K-12 Public School Board Data

Board seats in Iowa- 1,893

Male board members- 61%

Female board members- 39%

Five member boards- 219

Seven member boards- 114

Student enrollment 201617- 485,147

Total General Fund Revenues 201617

$5.8 billion

Community College Boards

Iowa’s 15 two-year community colleges are governed by five-to-nine board members elected by local residents in an election held the second Tuesday of September in odd-numbered years. They are elected to four-year terms.

The two-year community colleges are governed by five-to-nine board members elected by local residents in an election held the second Tuesday of September in odd-numbered years. They are elected to four-year terms.

CC Board Members Board

seats in Iowa

124- Male board members- 69%

Female board members-31%

Five member boards- 1

Seven member boards- 3

Eight member boards- 1

Nine member boards- 10

Area Education Agency Boards

The state’s nine area education agencies (AEAs) are governed by nine board members who are elected for four-year terms by public school board members.

Iowa AEAs are intermediate service units that provide special education, media and educational services to local schools.