This study examined a school district before and after its school board changed from appointed status to elected status to determine if there were significant differences in the board's handling of constituent demands. School board minutes were examined and demands were analyzed for a six-month period under the appointed school board, then compared to demands for six months under the elected school board. Results of the analysis showed significant differences in the control functions of the appointed and elected school boards in 6 of 15 demand areas. Of these, the elected school board was more responsive in the three areas of new teaching methods, student behavior, and community services. There were distinct differences in the control functions performed by the appointed and elected boards. However, only demands for new teaching methods were both quantitatively and qualitatively different under the elected board. There was strong evidence that the school board does exert political control in processing its decisions. This seems to disagree with some earlier studies, but the earlier studies concentrated only on money demands. By broadening the spectrum of demands analyzed, the present study found significant differences in political control functions that earlier studies had missed. (Author/JG)