The following resources can help you set up and conduct your board of education candidate campaign:
- campaign how to's
- free candidate webinars
- OSBA Leading the Way podcast Season 3, Episode 5: Get on Board! Run for your local school board
- OSBA candidate training sessions
- OSBA publication "Candidate: A practical guide to running for school board"
- factsheets and social media icons
Free candidate webinars
These webinars cover common questions that arise as candidates are considering running for a seat on their board of education:
- What Does It Mean to be a School Board Member: Roles and responsibilities - review the responsibilities of serving as a school board member.
- Being a School Board Candidate - learn about being a candidate for your school board.
- Campaign First Steps - review the legal aspects of setting up your campaign
- Campaign Contributions - review the types of financial contributions that are permitted to support your campaign.
- Campaign Expenditures - learn about the four types of expenditures allowable for campaign funds.
- Campaign Reporting Requirements - learn about the requirements for reporting campaign contributions and expenditures.
- Pre-Board Candidate Webinar - Led by OSBA staff, this webinar describes the roles and responsibilities of school board service and requirements for running for a seat on a local board of education. Recording date July 10, 2021. View links referenced in the webinar
OSBA Leading the Way podcast Season 3, Episode 5: Get on Board! Run for your local school board
If Ohio is to provide a high-quality education to its roughly 1.7 million students, it needs representative school boards that can meet the challenges of the diverse districts they represent. That’s the goal of OSBA’s Get on Board campaign, which was launched this month to encourage Ohioans to run for their local school boards. Angela Penquite, OSBA's deputy director of communication services, and Steve Horton, a former school board member and OSBA's senior board and management services consultant, discuss the roles and responsibilities of school board members and the training and other resources OSBA is providing to potential candidates and those who have decided to run. Access the podcast
OSBA candidate training sessions
OSBA offers several workshops for board of education candidates.
Pre-Board Candidate Workshop • Saturday, July 10, 10 a.m.-noon • free
This free workshop is for people who are thinking about running for their school board and current board of education members appointed to office who must now run for election. It reviews the roles and responsibilities of running for a school board and the requirements for running for a seat on a local board of education. This workshop will be led by two veteran OSBA staff members and include time for questions.
OSBA Board Candidate Workshops and webinar
Led by OSBA experts, these five sessions held around the state will lead candidates through a concise and valuable program to help them better understand the everyday roles and responsibilities of school board members and the legal aspects of campaigning and being a board member. The cost to attend is $50. Click on the links below to register.
- Sept. 8 — ESC of Northeast Ohio, Independence, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Sept. 9 — Laurel Oaks Career Campus, Wilmington, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Sept. 15 — Wood County ESC, Bowling Green, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Sept. 16 — Southeast Ohio, location TBD, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Sept. 18 — OSBA office, Columbus, 9 a.m.-noon
As an alternative, OSBA also is offering a this workshop as an on-demand webinar beginning Monday, Aug. 9. The first half of the Board Candidate Webinar will focus on board roles and responsibilities, and the second half will cover campaign finance and legal issues. The cost is $50.
Workshop and webinar registrants will receive a Board Candidate Kit, which includes “Candidate: A practical guide to running for school board;” a subscription to the OSBA Journal, the premier bimonthly magazine for school board members; and a subscription to Briefcase, a semimonthly newsletter.
OSBA publication
"Candidate: A practical guide to running for school board" • $15
This OSBA publication answers commonly asked questions related to getting started as a candidate. Topics covered include management of the campaign committee, financial reporting and ethical issues.