True or False: Stockholders in a school of optometry are eligible for membership on the board.

The correct choice is based on California laws governing optometry schools. According to these regulations, stockholders in a school of optometry are typically not permitted to serve on the board of the institution. This rule is in place to maintain a clear separation between financial interests and governance, ensuring that board members can make decisions in the best interest of the school without personal conflicts of interest that might arise from their financial stakes.

The rationale behind prohibiting stockholders from board membership is driven by the need for impartiality and integrity in the governance of educational institutions. Board members are entrusted with significant responsibilities, including the stewardship of the institution's mission, financial stability, and regulatory compliance. Allowing stockholders to serve could potentially lead to decisions that prioritize financial returns over educational quality or ethical standards.

Understanding this context helps clarify why the statement is false. For members who might still wish to serve on a board, they would need to meet different criteria that do not involve stock ownership, thereby ensuring that they can act in the best interests of the optometry school as a whole.