Question: Are there any laws requiring districts to pay board members for their service?

Response: Education Code section 35120 establishes the various levels of compensation for governing board members. The monthly amount is based on the average daily attendance of the prior school year, with ranges from 60,000 ADA down to 150 ADA. The language in the section is specific to the monthly amount, but it is worded as "may", not as "shall", so the understanding would be that compensation is optional, not mandatory.

As far as health benefits, if it is decided by the district that board members are eligible for such benefits, Government Code section 53208.5 controls the amount that may be spent on school district board members’ health and welfare benefits for any member whose first service on that board commenced on and after January 1, 1995. In general, the limit prescribed by section 53208.5 is that the health and welfare benefits received by the affected board members shall be no greater than the most generous schedule of benefits being received by any category of non-safety employees of the district.