A Salute to School Board Members - November 15, 2009

School board members are ordinary people who have an extraordinary dedication to our public schools. It is time we thanked them for their untiring efforts.

Too often we forget about the personal sacrifices school board members routinely make.

We forget about the important role school board members play in assuring local control over our public schools, control that is in the hands of people we know … people who are our neighbors.

We forget that, in the tradition of a representative democracy, school board members are the community's key connection to influencing how our public schools are governed.

Too often we are too quick to criticize school board members without really knowing all the details that went into any given decision. As a result, the efforts of school board members often go unrecognized and unrewarded.

We can begin to correct these oversights on Nov. 15, 2009, which is School Board Members Day in Illinois. This is a time to show our appreciation and to begin to better understand how school board members work together to provide leadership for our schools.

The school board works closely with parents, education professionals and other community members to create the educational vision we want for our students. It then formulates goals, defines results and sets the course for an adequate and equitable educational program for all students.

The school board is accountable to the public. It is responsible for assuring the public the money allocated to the public schools is providing a good return on their investment.

The school board is also a strong advocate for public schools and is responsible for communicating the needs of the school district to the public and the public's expectations to the district.

On Nov. 15, join with others from throughout our district and state to salute the men and women who provide the grassroots governance of public schools. Make a special effort to tell each school board member his or her hard work has been noticed and is very much appreciated.

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS - THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR DISTRICT!