What is a School Director?
by Since my decision to run for the board at 4:45 PM on May 15, just four days before the primary I have given a lot of windshield time consideration to the question, "What are a School Director’s responsibilities?" I see them this way.
First, a champion of education for the students and community.
The person must not only value education, he or she must be one who will take a lead in seeing it happen. Second best for any child is not good enough. It is both being innovative and cautious. It is keeping the board and the administration out of the teacher’s way so they can teach. It is cutting bureaucracy so that education has a chance to happen. It is providing the right tools, resources and teachers in the right places.
Second, an advocate for the safety and welfare of all students.
Our students are bombarded on many levels. The school must become a safe place for them no matter what but we cannot allow the concern for this to jeopardize the first mission of the school, education. Real threats have to be addressed. Petty ideas have to be junked so that education can happen. Teachers and students that are afraid of physical violence or afraid to do their part in the educational process cannot be effective.
Third, the keeper of the purse.
The school directors have a responsibility to the community as well. They hold the purse that is filled by tax money from the local residents. Be honest, the state and federal funds come from the same local residents. It just passes through sticky fingers of people in Harrisburg and Washington DC and a lot of it gets lost there or diverted to Philadelphia and other cities. They make the decisions on what is and is not funded. They determine who provides services to the district.
Finally, the juggler of the above items.
Here is the tough part, seeing that education happens, the students are safe and it is done with the least expenditure of resources. Needs are addressed. Wants are declined. Teachers are adequately but not lavishly compensated. Providers of services are evaluated on value alone. It is making the hard decisions when necessary.
Running for Political Office May 19, 2009
An End to Complacency May 19, 2009
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