DDESS School Boards
For almost 200 years, DDESS (and its predecessor organizations) has been helping to educate the children of eligible military and federal civilian employees at designated military installations in the United States, including Puerto Rico and Guam. Throughout this time, DDESS school boards have provided valuable assistance to DDESS administrators by helping to maintain the best possible learning environment in our schools.
If DDESS is to continue our fine tradition of excellence in education we will need the help of energetic, willing volunteers who seek election to our DDESS schools boards.
The following information is designed to briefly explain the guidelines governing DDESS school boards, how to become a school board member, and what will be expected of members once they are elected. Please read the information carefully, and then discuss any questions you may have with any DDESS administrator in your school district.
Being a DDESS school board member is a serious responsibility but one that offers significant rewards – the primary reward being the opportunity to actively participate in the process of educating our children.
DDESS and DoDDS are organizationally aligned under the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). DoDEA is a DoD field activity operating under the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. DDESS is headed by a Director located at the DDESS Area Service Center in Peachtree City, GA.
10 United States Code §2164(d) requires the Secretary of Defense to provide for the establishment of school boards for DDESS. Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1342.25 provides detailed guidance for the operation of DDESS school boards.
Any person who resides on a military installation where a DDESS school is located may seek election to a DDESS school board. In Puerto Rico or Guam, a school board candidate must have a child attending a DDESS school. However, a person who is employed by DDESS or that has a financial interest with a company that does business with the school system may not serve as a school board member.
A person who wishes to run for the school board may either be nominated by at least one member of the electorate (i.e., a parent of a DDESS student) or a member of the electorate may nominate and vote for a person as a write-in candidate on the day of the election.
Due to the requirement that Congress and the Department of Defense have established for school boards, the local District Superintendent and school board are responsible for establishing the rules applicable to nomination and election of school board members. Contact a local school administrator or the school district office to obtain the specific rules applicable to your school district.
School board members are expected to attend all open and executive session school board meetings. School board members:
- Participate in the development and oversight of fiscal, personnel, and educational policies, procedures, and programs.
- Prepare an annual written on-site review of the Superintendent’s performance for consideration by the Superintendent's supervisor.
- Provide counsel to the Superintendent on the operation of the school and the implementation of the approved budget.
- Participate in the development of school policies, rules, and regulations, in conjunction with the Superintendent, and recommend which policies shall be reflected in the School Policy Manual.
See the full instruction: Department of Defense Instruction 1342.25.