Does It Even Matter?

This morning, millions of people around the world and in our backyard as still absorbing the news of the first Latino Pope, the antics of CPAC, the sequester, the donning of green, and for some, their local school board election.

Spring is in the air, our local public school kids are thinking of all the non-education-things they plan to do next week, some here, some on vacation, all not thinking about math and reading and test scores.

Then there are some of us, five to be exact, who are probably sitting down this Saturday morning thinking of what else needs to be done before the April 2nd election.  Have I talked to enough people? Put out enough yard signs? Made enough flyers? Shaked enough hands? Raised enough money?

Does it even matter?

I pointed out in one of the forums that we have had a school board election every year of the five years I've lived here.  Can anyone say election fatigue?

School board elections, mayoral elections, city council elections, state legislative and gubernatorial elections, federal representative, senate, and presidential elections...fatigue is in high gear for a lot of people who just want to tune out of politics.

But it does matter.

Tune back in.

There are five people running for this supposed non-partisan election, but we all know, politcs seeps into the running of the school board, sides are drawn, agendas are outlined, special interests are spending money.

Tune back in.

Why does it matter?

The school board has the power and control to determine the property values of our little suburb.  After all, people move here because we have great schools, that is why my husband and I chose this place for our last three of six children to finish (or begin) their educational journey.  

The school board's decisions determine the size of the classroom, the quality of the teachers, the high price of the administrator's salaries, the taxes we pay, the turnover of homes.  

There is so much more involved that just letting things remain, keep the status quo.

Tune in and ask yourself what do you really need from the seven people elected to govern your school district and supervise your superintendent.

Ask questions of yourself and the candidates.

Now is not the time to join in a popularity contest, not everyone who is popular is also qualified.

This is the critical time to ask about the future of the schools and the direction we, as a community, want to take.

The fact that there were 10 qualified people who stepped forward to say the status quo is not what we want, should send an alert to the community and the board that we want something different.

We did not get it with the appointed seat, but you can get it with the election of the two seats up this year and make plans to do it next year when the appointed seat is up for election.

Are you getting the type of communication you need? Are your questions heard or are you just relegated to five minues of open questions on the twice-Monday-meetings only to never have them answered?

Do you understand what is happening with the decisions the building principals are making that affect your child or your neighbor's child?

Public school affects us all and benefits us all, even if we do not have children in the district.  We all have a stake in having the best possible district with the best possible board members.

Be involved.

Host a coffee, plan a forum, two weeks remain in this election, two weeks for you to think deeply and make an informed decision.

It does matter, tune in.