Board members do a lot. Please take the opportunity to let them know their work is appreciated.
How many people do you know who would take a job with no financial benefit and countless hours of work that leaves themselves wide open to public criticism because their decisions are so vital to a promising future for our young people?
In Pennsylvania, there are 4,500 of them. Their motivation is to contribute to perhaps this nation’s most vital institution, the public education of your children. They are School Board members and the job they do ensures our schools continue to provide opportunities for the success of every student.
Every January, we take time to celebrate and recognize these everyday heroes – the nine elected School Board members for the challenging work they do on behalf of our students, families, employees and community. These dedicated volunteers are your neighbors, friends, community leaders, parents at your school, and engaged senior citizens.
In Quakertown, School Directors devote 20-plus hours a month to the challenging and complex responsibilities of Board and district business. Oftentimes, many people only pay attention to the School Board when there’s a tax vote, but they do much more than just setting millage rates. Their work includes adopting policy, voting on budgets, and evaluating the superintendent. Through Board policy and working with the district’s administration, they set high standards of performance and accountability, offer new choices and options for parents and students, and work to ensure adequate funding and broad community engagement.
Unlike the federal and state government, the Board is required to balance the budget each year despite increasing state and federal mandates that don’t include adequate funding from those authorities. The impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic has added an additional challenge to their heavy lift, as they determine how best to provide for the needs of students, their families and district employees in this new environment. The pressures are immense. Yet, they haven’t flinched in the face of the challenges or shied away from their responsibilities.
During this month of recognition, please take a moment and show your gratitude for your School Directors’ time, dedication, and effort. Thank them for advocating on behalf of our collective interest, and most importantly, for making the success of your children their priority.
The locally elected volunteer public servants who contribute to keeping the public school system strong and effective in Quakertown are: Kaylyn Mitchell, President; Ron Jackson, Vice President; Jon Kern, Steaven Klein, Keith Micucci, David Ochmanowicz Jr., Brian Reimers, Chris Spear and Jenn Weed.