Quoting a research project by the Pacific Research Institute, the folks at K-12 Dive, an online news source focused on education, recently published an article which stated that voters across the country are rating their local school boards lower than they rate their schools.  At least they, unlike Hartford voters, approve of one of the two.

According to the data presented, only 36% of voters rated their school boards as “excellent or good,” while 49% of voters said their local school board was “fair, poor, or very poor.”  Among the top reasons for giving low ratings, voters said the boards “don’t listen enough to people they should listen to,” are trying to promote other agendas, and they “allow the wrong people or groups to influence their decisions.”

While the article was written within the context of “school board meetings becoming increasingly contentious amid debates over controversial policy issues and curriculum content,” the Hartford Board of Education’s refusal to consult with teachers on issues before them, their never questioning the superintendent’s decisions, and their elementary school like vetting of service providers, would surely garner them a similar low rating from voters.  You can be just as incompetent while remaining collegial.

Voters in Hartford who may be dissatisfied with their school board, have the opportunity to affect change.  As the mayor of Hartford appoints five members of the 9-member board, it would behoove voters to question this year’s mayoral candidates about their school board thinking.  Similarly, elected members of the board should be scrutinized for their words and actions (or silent inactions) when their reelection time arrives in 2025.