January is School Board Appreciation Month
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Understanding Your School Board
When are school board members elected?
School board elections must be held only on the second Saturday in May or first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Special elections to fill vacancies that may occur between elections also may be held as appropriate.
How are school board members elected?
School district trustees are elected by popular vote. Whether an election is by majority or plurality vote is a matter of local policy. Terms of office vary depending on the legal characteristics of the district. Generally, trustees serve staggered terms so that not all of the board is up for election at the same time.
Can citizens attend school board meetings?
Yes. School boards must meet in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and make public records available pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act. Citizens are welcome at all school board meetings, except in a few legally specified circumstances permitting closed meetings.
Most school boards allow citizen participation and have policies communicating how and when citizens can contribute their input. Generally, boards set aside a portion of the regular meeting for public comment and limit each speaker to five minutes. This is a chance for citizens to give input while allowing adequate time for other important board business.
Texas Association of School Boards
P.O. Box 400 • Austin, Texas 78767-0400
800.580.8272 • 512.467.0222
tasb.org