The unofficial but not-quite-final results of Tuesday's election suggest that at least 14 incumbents lost their seats on various school boards in Stanislaus County.
Two went down to defeat on each of at least four boards — Ceres, Modesto, Newman and Turlock. And in six other districts, one incumbent lost.
Why? We think there are multiple factors.
In some cases, the general mistrust of and dissatisfaction with all elected officials, from downtown to D.C., hit close to home in this all-local election.
In some cases, lingering unhappiness over budget cuts or other controversial decisions worked against incumbents.
In some races, the challengers simply out-hustled the sitting board members, putting more effort and money into their campaigns.
And not only did some incumbents lose, but in a number of districts some board members didn't seek re-election.
All of that adds up to lots of fresh faces and voices during what is one of, if not the most, challenging times for school districts.
The state budget will get worse before it gets better, and even districts that made major cuts for this year could have to make more painful reductions for 2010-11 and beyond.
None of this will be easy or pleasant, because these cuts affect our children and their prospects for future success.
New trustees will have little time to get up to speed, because 2010-11 budgets will have to be put together in the next few months, certainly by March and April if layoffs are a possibility.
Given all that, we urge all trustees — be they newbies or veterans — to do their homework, never hesitating to ask hard but critical questions of their staffs and of each other. And, those questions should be asked in public settings as well as privately.
Taxpayers expect their elected leaders to be carefully reviewing expenditures, rather than simply rubber-stamping whatever the staff recommends.
It's also critical for trustees to listen not just to administrators, but to staff, teachers, parents and others as well.
Board members also need to have professional working relationships with their superintendent — the only district employee who reports directly to them. A seasoned educator in our area tells us he meets with — and asks — each of his board members these two questions:
• How will you communicate with me when you think I'm messing up?
• How should I communicate with you when I think you're messing up?
Those questions only work if a board and superintendent have cultivated an atmosphere that encourages openness and direct, honest communication.
That type of environment exists today in some, but not all, of the districts in our area.
If the challenges are great in districts such as Turlock and Oakdale, which have relatively healthy budgets and an absence of obvious controversy, they're even greater in a district such as Modesto City Schools, where there is acrimony on the board and in the organization — and where a $20 million budget crisis awaits the new board.
This election could reshape Modesto's seven-member board in a variety of ways, including temperament, direction, and, we hope, transparency.
Based on unofficial results, two incumbents who expressed strong support for the status quo and for Superintendent Arturo Flores lost their seats. Two other incumbents who have been more skeptical of Flores' performance appear to have been re-elected. And two challengers who promised a stronger review of finances and administration are among the vote leaders.
Some described this election as a referendum on Flores himself, but we see it more as a referendum on leadership.
As a first-time superintendent, Flores needed both support and guidance from his board. We don't think he got it. Rather, he was shielded from questioning and criticism and protected by unnecessary and unhealthy protocols.
The new board has both an opportunity and a responsibility to provide the strong leadership that has been lacking but is needed for the district and the superintendent to succeed in these difficult times.
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