Does California Need Local School Boards?

A San Francisco Recall Reveals a Dysfunctional System Failing Students—And the Useless Scapegoating of Powerless Officials

If California’s local school board members won’t accept unfair criticism, submit to questionable recall votes, or tolerate verbal abuse at meetings, then California should do away with school boards entirely.

Why? Because being savaged publicly is more than just the ugly side of serving on a school board. Taking Californians’ crap has become the essential role of local board members in our crazy educational system.

They don’t have all that much else to do. The governor and legislative leaders manage school spending formulas and draw up education budgets. Powerful statewide teachers’ unions …