Voter Primer: What Elected School Board Members (do and do not do)

In White County and across Tennessee, school board members serve staggered terms so that only a portion of the board is up for election at one time. This system helps ensure continuity of leadership and institutional knowledge for the school district. In the upcoming election year, only three districts — Districts 5, 6, and 7 — will have seats on the ballot because their terms are expiring while others continue.

What School Board Members Do

1. Provide governance and overall management of the school system

School boards are legally responsible for managing and controlling all public schools in their district. This includes making broad decisions about the direction of the district and ensuring compliance with state and federal law.

2. Hire and evaluate the superintendent (Director of Schools)

Boards have the authority to hire a superintendent under a written contract. They also conduct annual evaluations of that superintendent’s performance.

3. Adopt policies and a budget

The school board adopts policies that guide how the district operates and approves the school system budget, which is then submitted to the county legislative body.

4. Oversee teachers with tenure and salary schedules

Upon the superintendent’s recommendation, boards elect teachers who have tenure or are eligible for it and fix their salaries.

5. Discipline and student-related decisions

Boards can suspend or dismiss pupils when necessary for progress, safety, or efficiency reasons.

6. Purchasing and other administrative powers

Boards oversee certain purchases, require competitive bidding for large expenditures, and may exercise discretionary options such as establishing night schools or before-and-after-school care.

7. Hold public meetings and represent the community

Boards must hold regular meetings (at least quarterly), conduct business by a majority vote, and operate transparently.

8. Board member eligibility and responsibilities under state law

State law requires board members to be elected from districts with equal populations, serve staggered four-year terms, attend annual training, and elect a chair for the board.

What School Board Members Do Not Do

Despite their important governance role, school board members do not manage day-to-day school operations or serve as administrators in the district:

1. They are not the employer of all staff

Although boards adopt policy and set broad staffing frameworks, the only employee of the board is the superintendent (Director of Schools). All other hires, including teachers, principals, and support staff, are handled under the superintendent’s authority in accordance with board policy. The board does not directly hire or fire teachers, custodians, or other staff members — that responsibility is delegated to the superintendent’s office. This is reinforced in White County Board of Education policy, which separates board governance from administrative execution.

2. They do not act individually with authority

Board members do not have the power to make school system decisions on their own outside of official board meetings. Any authority they exercise must be through formal votes at public meetings.

3. They do not dictate curriculum or classroom decisions

While boards adopt policies that set direction and approving frameworks, they do not manage specific curricular choices or classroom instruction — those are operational responsibilities led by the superintendent and instructional staff.

4. They do not micromanage school operations

Board policy guidance (such as in the White County manual) differentiates between policy and administrative procedures, specifying that boards make the policy while the superintendent implements procedures.

Understanding what the school board is — and is not — responsible for helps voters make informed decisions when they head to the polls. These positions play a vital role in shaping long-term education policy, setting expectations for the district, and ensuring accountability at the highest level of school system governance. With only Districts 5, 6, and 7 on this year’s ballot, voters in those areas have an important opportunity to choose leaders who will represent their communities thoughtfully and work in partnership with the superintendent, families, and educators to support White County students.