With reference to Prince Edward Island, Canada, the author notes that a new school act for that province in 1971 consolidated 217 school districts into 5. The result has been a decline in community participation with corresponding alienation and apathy manifested by the public in two ways: a dearth of candidates offering themselves for election to the new school boards and a very low turnout in voting. To solve these problems, the author makes recommendations for (1) a graduated scale of payment for services to school trustees; (2) more extensive use of the principle and practice of cooptation; (3) compulsory voting by the public during school board elections; and (4) establishment of certain criteria of eligibility to sit on school boards, including attendance at preservice courses. The author also suggests the introduction of units of work on school boards into the curriculum of schools and concludes by suggesting some new roles for school boards. (Author/LD)