School districts are cultural systems that may be classified along a continuum from homogeneous to heterogeneous according to the diversity represented in their cultural composition. School boards are the decision-making system that, given the competitive federal, state, and local demands, decides on the particular educational policies and programs available to a cultural system. As such, school boards are meta-mediators in public education. While the school board may respond in either elite or arena council fashion, the tradition of school boards in America dictates an elite council process. This kind of council action provides a poor fit between such boards and the multicultural nature of most urban school districts. The arena type action is a poor fit with homogeneous cultures. Boards that do not fit with the culture of their district are not effective as meta-mediators. The model suggested here provides an opportunity to evaluate the fit between the culture of the school board and the culture of the school district. (Author/IRT)