To become a capable and successful board member, an individual must be willing to devote many hours to serving as a school trustee--attending board meetings, school functions, conferences, and workshops, and thoroughly studying issues and problems demanding decisions. This manual gives a comprehensive account of these areas of board responsibility and the specific "how to's" of procedure. This issue, which incorporates the significant points of the previous editions, has been aimed at updating information of importance to board members as well as at clarifying the role of today's board member. It is hoped that this manual will give the new board member a mini-course in California public school boardsmanship and will refresh and update the knowledge of board members who have already served for a period of time. (Author)