John Lawrence Wants Another Barrier For School Board Candidates — Lois Kaneshiki, who was a Hollidaysburg school director from 2015-2019, has let us know that one of our Pennsylvania GOP favorite LOLs State Rep. John Lawrence (R-13) is trying to place more barriers up for ordinary citizens running for school board.
He announced he is will be sponsoring a bill that will require Background Checks for School Board Candidates.
These background checks are simply unnecessary for candidates.
They are time-consuming and costly to comply with, and require getting fingerprinted by the FBI.
For candidates? Really?
This is simply a tactic to further discourage community members who want to participate in the governance of their local schools to get involved.
Even once elected, school directors almost never have direct contact with students. Most of their activity involves attending official meetings and occasional school functions just like the general public).
Why should they all have to get background checks, unless they are going inside the schools?
Everyone who cares about making elected school board positions available to ordinary citizens should contact their state legislators and ask them to oppose to this bill.
I do not see this as a barrier. Several of the background checks are free or minimal expense if you are volunteering in any way related to the school so you only have to pay for one – if you’re not willing to invest $30 then maybe you’re not serious about being on the school board.