The truth about elected school boards
FALSE: Elected school boards will lead to campaigns funded by outside interest groups
TRUTH: That money is already here — and much of it is funding the anti-elected school board campaign. The Hanover Republican Party, Middle Resolution PAC and local politicians have donated more than $40,000 to stop you from voting for your representatives.
Source: VPAP
FALSE: Teacher unions will pour money into school board races to buy seats.
TRUTH: The statewide Virginia Education Association does not donate to school board candidates. Only some local branches support local candidates, averaging $175-500—hardly enough to buy an election.
FALSE: Appointed school boards perform better than elected school boards
TRUTH: Hanover has schools that consistently perform above the state average, thanks to our dedicated teachers and administration. But, 56 schools performed better on Reading SOLs and 63 did better on Math—almost all from elected school boards.
Most importantly, there is no relationship between school performance and school board type.
Watch: Former Hanover School Board member Sterling Daniel breaks down the data
FALSE: Appointed school board candidates are well-vetted by the Board of Supervisors
TRUTH: Three applicants in 2023 described a rushed selection process. Several received no more than 15-minute weekend phone call, made without advance notice, just days before the final decision was set to be announced.
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch
FALSE: Hanover’s school board is made up of educational professionals.
TRUTH: Out of 7 sitting school board members, only 2 have worked in education. Also, only two have school-age children and one sends their children to private school.
Source: VPAP