How to support GUSD

School Board members are nonpartisan elected officials. They are usually current or former GUSD parents. GUSD board members earn a small monthly stipend of about $1200 a month and meet at least once a month for public board meetings. Most board members serve in addition to full-time work elsewhere.

The school board ensures that GUSD is fiscally stable, compliant with local, state, and federal education laws, and work to establish programs and practices that are best for all students. Board members hire and work closely with the Superintendent and District staff, who are the experts in District operations. A positive Board/Superintendent relationship fosters a healthy working relationship between the teachers and classified staff and the superintendent. The biggest challenge for any public school district is balancing compensation and spending with fluctuating annual budgets. Superintendents are hired by the Board on multi-year contracts that may be renewed.

Board members serve 4-year terms and elections happen every 2 years on the California primary ballot. Glendale uses trustee areas - there are 5 - to divide up the district. All five members work together for all schools, but they are elected only by the voters in their trustee area. Each trustee area averages around 25,000 registered voters.

Elections are held every 2 years on the date of the California primary. Each election, either 2 or 3 of the seats are up for re-election. Board members have term limits of 3 terms (12 years) maximum. Voter turnout in Glendale school board races has not been over 45% in decades. Most voters in Glendale do not vote in their local school board race.