ADVOCATES FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Advocates for Student Achievement

What it Takes

What does it take to be an MPS

School Board member?



Serving on the board involves:
  • Attendance at a monthly meeting of the full board. These evening meetings can run anywhere from two to eight hours, with 3-4 hours being the norm.
  • Attendance at one or more committee meetings per month, which typically run 2-3 hours.
  • Preparation for meetings. Conscientious board members typically spend an hour preparing for every hour of meeting time.
  • Time spent visiting schools and in side meetings.

Think of it as a part-time job. (In fact, it actually does come with a compensation package – currently $18,000 a year plus benefits.) Done well, it averages out to a time investment of about 10 hours a week.




What does it take to run for the

school board?

Running an effective campaign requires time, contacts and money. ASA’s goal is to provide well qualified candidates with help in all three categories.

Specifically, it takes:

Time. Of course, the number of hours candidates spend varies dramatically, depending on the challenge they face and the energy they are willing to commit. Activities can include some or all of the following:

  • As soon as you know you’re seriously considering running for the board, it’s a good idea to start taking in school board meetings once a month – and select committee meetings, if possible – to bone up on the issues facing the board. You can attend or simply listen to these meetings on WYMS.

  • Over the summer and throughout the fall, candidates may work the phones and key neighborhood events to line up supporters. This is also a good time to start fleshing out your thoughts on what you want to accomplish on the board. This should eventually evolve into a campaign platform of 3-5 main issues.

  • By late fall, you’ll be registering with the Milwaukee Election Commission. This is required before collecting signatures or money.

  • Between December 1 and the first Tuesday in January, you and your supporters will be gathering at least 500 signatures (to give yourself a cushion since you need a minimum of 400 “good” ones) and, preferably, closer to the limit of 800 from residents of your district to get your name on the ballot. This is a great opportunity to spread the word and build your base of supporters by going door-to-door, soliciting people at shopping centers, etc. You can also be raising money at this point.

  • Formal campaigning begins in early January. When more than two candidates run for a seat, a primary election is held in mid-February. The general election is held the first Tuesday in April. Campaigners typically go door-to-door, attend major events in the district, and make phone calls working off lists of residents who voted in prior elections.



Contacts. The most effective candidates actively enlist the support of their own personal network of friends, family and neighbors to help them collect signatures, distribute literature and signs, make phone calls and conduct other campaign activities. They identify key organizations within the district such as neighborhood centers and churches, and work their personal network to gain entree to these groups of potential supporters.

You don't have to be super well-connected to consider running for the school board. But if you run a good campaign, whether you win or lose, you'll have greatly expanded your network of relationships by Election Day. For most candidates, this is the best side benefit of running.





Money. In the last election cycle, the cost of running a serious race was in the $15,000-20,000 range (except for the citywide seat, which takes more resources.) Common expenses include the printing of literature and signs, the purchase of voter lists, creation of a simple web site (if you can’t get someone to do it for free), and – for some candidates – the use of a paid campaign manager. Of course, candidates strive to tap as many free resources as possible, e.g., a “phone bank” made available by a local business.

To cover these and other expenses, candidates and their campaign organizations typically conduct several fundraising events. They make one-on-one contact with potential major donors. They may also send out direct mail appeals to individuals they believe will be supportive, both within and outside their district.

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Many people who would be excellent school board members are intimidated by the prospect of running a campaign. But while it’s true that it requires a substantial commitment of time and energy, it’s also true that running for the school board or any local office can be an exhilarating, richly rewarding experience. And with the creation of ASA, well qualified candidates have gained a new resource.

The bottom line: Overseeing an urban school system is not a job for the faint of heart. But if you have what it takes to be an effective school board member, you have the opportunity to help shape the future of our children and our community.