Pennsylvania school board members could get salaries, free tuition under proposed legislation

Publish date: 2024-06-03

MONTGOMERY, Pa. (CITC) — Pennsylvania may soon join other states in paying the elected representatives of its public school districts.

Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery) is introducing legislation aimed at compensating school board members for the time they devote to school communities. The compensation, which Webster argues is overdue, would range from annual pay to free access to higher education.

Under Webster's proposal, individual communities would determine whether elected representatives of public school districts may be paid a salary. Salaries must be approved by the respective school boards and match compensation limits of other elected officials serving in the same municipality.

School board members have one of the most challenging and important obligations in government and deserve to be paid for the work and time they put in for our schools and students," Montgomery said. "They have a vast array of duties including adopting budgets, reviewing and setting district policies, and ensuring students and staff have the resources they need to achieve educational success."

Pennsylvania is one of several states where state law prohibits school districts from paying board members in any way. Standards vary state to state and even jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as the positions are only salaried statewide in Florida, California, New York, Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama.

Other states, including New Jersey and Ohio, provide members with monthly stipends of up to $200.

School board positions are often viewed as voluntary roles, with the National School Boards Association (NSBA) emphasizing the wide range of occupational backgrounds members typically stem from. However, Webster feels they should be treated no differently than any other elected official.

Public service is the same whether you are elected to a school board or a local municipality, and it is time we establish parity between the two," Webster said.

While receiving salaries would align Pennsylvania school board members with other elected state officials, Webster is looking to take it a step further.

Under Webster's legislation, school board members would also be provided with tuition-free enrollment at any of the state's 10 public universities. Members must be taking courses that "have a connection to their role and responsibilities" within their respective districts.

Webster argues that the tuition elimination will incentivize board members to refine necessary skills, thus leading to stronger boards statewide.

According to research, having a school board that demonstrates effective governance practices has a positive effect on student achievement and the school district as a whole," he said. "With the range of duties that they have, we need to provide school board members with the resources to gain or improve the skills required of their role to promote effective governance."

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. school board members intended to step down last year, with lack of pay cited as a top motivator. Other reasons included community backlash, poor administration accountability and concerns over school curriculums.

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