Board Member Privilege?

Today, we hear the word "privilege" almost exclusively in the context of the debated concept of "white privilege". It's a sneaky way of saying "advantage" that makes it harder to argue against. Today's question is whether school board members - regardless of race - have privilege. Do they enjoy advantages merely by being school board members apart from how much effort they put into the position?

Even before I first ran for school board in 2007 I was aware that there was a notion that board members were privileged in regard to their children. The only privilege that became immediately apparent to me is that as a board member, I had the superintendent's cell phone number and a guarantee that he or she would answer pretty much every time I called. 

That is an advantage that the typical parent or concerned resident doesn't have. The problem is that as far as your own children are concerned you, as a board member, are prohibited from calling the superintendent. You simply have to follow the "chain of command" from teacher to principal and up to the superintendent. If a concern ever got that far the superintendent would already be aware and would be involved with any parent equally - including board members.

Another advantage - one that I put in the "blessing and curse" category - is that a board member acquires a much better understanding of how the school system works. You get to see the bureaucracy in action. Witness how the sausage is made. Your eyes will be opened, but it can also be infuriating! 

Since we are examining privilege in the context of advantage it might be useful to list some of the DISadvntages that accrue to you as a board member and to your school-aged children. Here are a few from my own experience and from the experience of board members I have served with:

• You will be the target of disinformation campaigns. Teachers and school employees with whom you had good relationships before you ran for school board will turn against you because they will believe lies promulgated by dishonorable union leaders. In my case, it was the lie that I was the "architect of privatization". In reality, I fought against it and preserved union jobs.
• You may have teachers' union picketers outside your home during contract negotiations. This happened to board members during and before my time on the board.
• You may be the target of a vicious, libelous, letter-writing campaign. In 2017 I was the target of such a campaign. Teachers, neighbors, friends, professional associates, and others received anonymous letters through the US mail with preposterous accusations of illegal activity. All false. This went on for almost a year.
• Your children's academic future could be threatened. During a contract negotiation, a union leader turned to one board member and said, "Your children are out of the school system. They're safe." Then turned to me and another board member and said, "Your children are still in the system, think about that before you make your next offer." P.S. The other board member had the resources to remove his younger children from the district, and did so.
• Your children could be singled out and made to feel uncomfortable in class because their parent is a board member as happened to my daughter.
• Forget about getting college recommendation letters for your kids if you are in contract negotiations. It's not happening. And these are the people that use the phrase "for the children". It's a joke.

I could probably go on but you get the idea. The disadvantages far outweigh the advantages - at least externally. The privilege, if there is one, comes from an internal feeling that you have been of service to your fellow citizens. That has to be enough.