This project is a study of school board selection processes in 93 northern cities using the NORC "Permanent Community Sample." This report is concerned with the effects of the appointment of school board members as opposed to electing them either in competitive or noncompetitive elections. In general, researchers found that appointed school boards are heavily represented in northeastern United States, tend to have a more black representation, are more likely to be nonpolitical members of the local elite, are more concerned with school policy and more active in the schools, tend to have more conflict with their superintendents, and are less active in lobbying with other political officials for school support. In addition, appointed school boards are more likely to be desegregated in large cities with large black populations, elected school boards more likely to be desegregated in small cities with small black populations, and appointed school board members seem more realistic in their perception of the difficulty of improving schools and the necessity for learning to live with conflict about school affairs. Also included is a discussion of why elected school boards are more likely to desegregate in small cities and appointed school boards are more likely to desegregate in large cities. (Author)