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January is Board of Education Appreciation month. I want to take this opportunity to thank all Board of Education members who serve school districts throughout Allegan County for their dedication to a first-rate education for all students. It takes a special person to volunteer to serve as a Board of Education member, whether that person is elected or appointed. There is much more to the job than appears on the surface. Board members must work with district employees to ensure that every possible dollar finds its way to the classroom. Surely, this is no easy task in this era of fiscal uncertainty. Boards are often torn, deciding which great program can survive, and which equally great program must be cut to balance the budget.
As a superintendent, one of the most difficult situations I have witnessed is the need of Board members to uphold confidentiality in sensitive situations. For example, a Board may face public scrutiny over a personnel decision or student discipline matter. The Board knows details which cannot legally be divulged. In such cases, the Board is ‘between a rock and a hard place” and an easy target for criticism. Every Board member with whom I have ever worked have stated that the reason for putting in extra hours and putting up with the grief is to simply provide the best education for kids. The reward comes from hearing kids sing in the holiday concert and handing diplomas to graduating seniors. Please join with me in recognizing the hard work, effort, and dedication of a vastly underappreciated group of public servants, School Board members. I encourage all citizens to express their gratitude to these hard working folks. In Appreciation of All the School Board Members of Allegan County, Mark R. Dobias, Superintendent Allegan Area Educational Service Agency |
