Imagine a community with no local control over its schools. Picture paying an education bill without local men and women to make spending decisions for you and other citizens like you. Think about an education system where ALL policy is set at the state or national level. Imagine putting your children in the hands of someone you don’t know.
School board members are our neighbors who make education their business, investing countless hours of their time, and often their own resources, to set direction for our children and our public schools.
They are elected by YOU to establish policies that reflect your beliefs and set goals that project your community’s vision for the future. They spend long hours, after their own workdays, making decision on issues that eventually will affect everything from local business to the quality of life in your community. The future is literally in their hands.
Most of their efforts go unrewarded. Often, the only response school board members get is criticism. But what would you do without them? Where would you go with your concerns? Your questions? Your complaints?
When you elected the USD 350 school board members, you picked people to act for you in your absence. You chose men and women you knew you could entrust with the vitality of your community and the development of your children.
They play such an important role in the uniquely American school governance system that guarantees you local control of your schools. Show your appreciation to your local board of education during School Board Recognition Month in January. Say thanks to the dedicated board members in USD 350 for guiding your public school system and helping shape a better tomorrow. Without them, you would lose a vital link to your schools.
Many thanks and hats off to Barb Alpers, Carolyn Dunn, Carol Long, Bill Milton, Mitch Minnis, Merlyn Spare, and Stan Woodward.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Foster
An early childhood advocate
