At the end of the month, Governor Heineman will declare January 23-27 as Nebraska School Board Week. This is a well-deserved acknowledgement of people who steer our state’s school systems. They do this despite receiving no reward except for the satisfaction of knowing they are positively impacting the lives of young people.

Many people do not realize that school board members do not receive any pay for their work. Likewise, many do not realize the long hours that must be committed to do the job well. Finally, most people do not know how thankless a school board role can be – especially when unpopular decisions need to be made.
The key to being a good board member is to be willing to put the interests of students above all else. Having this perspective usually helps clarify what the correct course of action is. It also helps them set the district direction that is consistent with this focus.

School board members also play the critical role of community representatives. They take seriously their responsibility to know what the community wants from their schools. Then they work very hard to establish an educational system that will meet these community expectations. In this sense, the school board plays a critical role in our democratic society. They are key players in making sure our schools are responsive and accountable to the public.

I would like to thank the current Columbus Public Schools board members, Harriet Berlin, Chris Dixon, Don Dreesen, Barb Lehr, Julie McClure, and Ron Ziola. This is a group of people committed to doing what is in the best interest of children. They work very hard to make sure our school district fulfills its mission of preparing students academically for their future lives. I would also like to thank any former school board members in our community and those from Scotus Central Catholic and Lakeview Community Schools. They also have given a great deal of their time and energy to help our community become better through providing quality education.

Please join with me during the week of January 23-27 in thanking these selfless servants of our youth who are making a huge impact on our lives through their service to children.

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