Erin Richards:

According to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, candidates for local office should have these qualifications:

1. A belief that all kids are entitled to a good education
2. An open mind
3. A willingness to attend seminars to help them make intelligent decisions about school affairs
4. An ability to work with other school board members
5. Time

There are a few others, but you get the idea; it’s not like you need a graduate degree in economics for this gig. So why, according to a recent Journal Sentinel analysis, are almost 70% of local school board races in the five-county metro area going uncontested?
Seems like with all the concern over achievement rates, No Child Left Behind testing and cuts to school programs that more people, rather than fewer, would be interested in having a vote on what happens to their local district. One person has told us that part of it may be because so many schools have cut civics courses that illuminate how local government works.