It's a three to two world in some places.

Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) is an organization founded in 1955 to serve the needs of Ohio’s school board members. Headquartered in Columbus, it provides a wide range of professional services and training throughout the year.
A recent training for school board presidents produced many insights into the operations of other boards and the problems that arise when the big picture is not kept in mind.
The big picture, of course, is ‘what’s best for all students, the whole district and will serve us well ten years down the road?’ A tall order, but one which board members should keep in mind when making decisions and formulating policy.
One of those present at the training had a number of questions of the instructors. His questions were introduced by explaining that his was a three two board. That is, no matter what the issue or question, his board was always going to vote three to two.
The division of personality and vision was so distinct that he said if they were to vote on whether the sun had come up or not, the vote would be three to two. One can only imagine how difficult it is to get things done and move forward in that district.
Another member of the class had a different situation. A newly elected board member declared to the rest of the board that if they would vote to help him get rid of the superintendent and the golf coach, his vote was available for anything else they wanted. Obviously a strong agenda on this member’s part and not a positive one.
Then came the story from another board president who described a three to two split board that lost a member of the group of three to a job transfer. Four citizens applied to be appointed to fill the position.
It became apparent in the interviews that two of the applicants would side with one side of the board, and the other two applicants would side with the other side of the board.
Not being able to agree on anything, the remaining four members failed to appoint a successor to the departed member and it fell to the Probate Court Judge to make the appointment. The judge picked one of the applicants who, according to this board president, “Went to the dark side.”
After a few months of the new member working with the group of three and seeing their agenda and intent, she switched sides and the three to two split reversed itself.
Boards are made up of folks with a wide range of personalities, backgrounds and experiences. Which is a healthy and valuable resource in a school board.
Boards become non-productive, sometimes even dangerous if there are members with an agenda or purpose that does not serve the long range best interests of the community and the school system.
As I listened to these stories I found myself counting the fortunes of our Marietta City Schools board. Not only do we have a wide range of talent and experience, we are blessed to not have any private agendas being served. All are there to best serve the needs of the district.
We were further blessed when we had a vacancy last year to have eight citizens who stepped forward with great experience, background and intent to serve the district well. This apparently is not the case universally.
One board president in attendance had an even tougher story to tell. His board was always split four to one. And he was the lone voter. Perhaps two of his members will be transferred.