Why have an elected school board?

An elected school board gives all voters a say in who represents them, and who decides school policies and funding allocations.

Why have an elected school board?

  • Make school board members accountable to citizens, rather than the one Board of Supervisors representative who appointed them.

  • Have more control over issues affecting Hanover students.

  • Increase public interest in education and local policy issues.

Who supports an elected school board?

  • Parents who want an increased voice in school policy and believe that parents deserve more choice in who represents them.

  • Voters who are eager to express their preference for their school board representation rather than leave the decision to one supervisor.

  • While Hanover Citizens for an Elected School Board is NOT affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties, members of both parties support this non-partisan cause.

School board facts

  • The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 1992 to allow localities to have an elected, rather than appointed, school board.

  • Out of 132 localities, Hanover is one of only 11 with an appointed school board.

  • The current Hanover School Board does not represent the diversity of the county.

  • School boards in Virginia do NOT have taxing authority. They CANNOT raise taxes, whether the board is elected or appointed.

  • School boards DO determine how federal, state, and local funding will be allocated and spent.