The role of the school board.

• Author: Goens, George A.
• Position: Education

"There is a significant difference between opinion and knowledge, and information and understanding. Knowledge and understanding are prerequisites for responsible decisionmaking."

IN MOST of our lifetimes, public schools were seen as the bedrock of our nation and a source of pride for our communities. They were places to realize the American Dream, where the playing field could be leveled and children could pursue their aspirations and have a life better than their parents.

The idea, which is uniquely American in many respects, was that it did not matter where you came from or who your parents were--neither did your race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. What mattered was hard work and perseverance to learn and hone abilities to contribute to the future.

Free public schools nourished the concept that what you know matters more than who you know. Common people coupled with an education, talent, and drive could counter social status and elitist contacts based on wealth or position. Only in the U.S. is there a "Fanfare for the Common Man," instead of fanfares for some inherited royalty or elitist privilege. Public education celebrated the possibilities in the "common" diverse citizenry.

Local school board members are stewards of the principles of public education. Stewardship rests on responsibility, a sense of the future, and a commitment to the common good. As citizens holding elective office, board members have a responsibility to take long-term care of the public schools and protect the community's investment and the interests of children. They should leave the schools in better condition than they were prior to their holding office. Making difficult and unpopular decisions today so the schools are better tomorrow is the role of a steward.

Stewards add value to the community, rather than diminish it. Board members intent on their own self-interest of getting reelected can compromise stewardship for expediency or their own popularity. Only in looking back do we realize which public officials, from presidents to school board members, have been good stewards.

Inquiry is the foundation for stewardship. The board must ask questions and inquire into the principles behind proposals, the research base to support them, the reasons for and the costs of initiatives, and the expected results and accountability procedures to ensure proper implementation and outcomes. Sometimes educational and political decisions overlap and local boards must be able to rise above local, state, or national politics to do what is best for children in their local community.

Stewardship requires courage to face special interests, the economically connected, the politically powerful, and the criticism of pundits and the press. Some board members and superintendents are cowardly lions in the face of economic, social, and political pressures. Doing what is expedient takes less courage than doing what is right. Decisions and pressure are a part of public life, but those decisions should look to the future and support core values and the common good.

Running schools is...