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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2001)
The INDEPENDENT, January 17, 2001 Page 3 eing an effective school board member requires a lot of work With school board elections coming up in March and a full slate of candidates for most po sitions, here are some thoughts on what is involved in that position. Most of the fol lowing material is from Becom ing a Better Board Member, a Guide to Effective School Board Service, a publication of the National School Boards Association. A decision to run for school board requires an enormous commitment of time and ener gy to serve the community. Motivated by a desire to pro vide excellence and equity for all children, those seeking a board position are generally community leaders who are ca pable of understanding the tan gible and intuitive aspects of is sues which confront a system charged with the responsibility of educating a//children to their fullest potential. Communication and political skills are essential when work ing with individual members of the school community and pub lic constituents. The individuals who make up a board must also have a high level of skill in working as members of a team. An understanding of the me chanics of group decision mak ing (parliamentary procedure, countability and advocacy. Adopting a shared vision to guide the school district into the future takes into account It is important for board the context of the district within members to be able to advo a diverse society and allows lo cate for a minority view when cal control when establishing voting and then openly and ac goals. The school board is respon tively support the majority vote of the board in the community. sible for setting up the plan All issues that come before the ning, policy and management board must receive the full at structure that can move the tention of each member and district towards its vision. This includes employ board members ing a superinten must educate "The common school dent, adopting a themselves on was to be free, financed vision and goals, the myriad of is by local and state gov formulating bud sues that come gets, setting high before the ernment, controlled by standards for in board. Board lay boards o f education, struction and members must and mixing all social a c a d e m ic guide their ac groups under one roof." a c h ie v e m e n t, tions by a sound — Horace Mann and encouraging ethical code of conduct of per Educator an environment sonal honesty, 1796-1859 that rewards in novation and im integrity, fair provement. ness and trust and ensure that they are not Local school boards are di using their office for personal rectly accountable to the com or partisan gain. munities they serve and set up the system of accountability for In a time of rapid social, economic, and technological their own districts. This in change, the board’s responsi cludes assessment of student bility is greater than ever. The achievement, evaluation of National School Boards Asso staff, ensuring that all functions ciation (NSBA) has identified of the district work together four key roles for local school harmoniously, and fulfilling the boards; vision, structure, ac requirements of the state. the function of committees, the ability to reach consensus) is necessary. Board members must oper ate effectively with each other and know how to function when involved in actions concerning such diverse subjects as arbi tration, special education, school lunch programs, griev ances, distance learning, district’s needs. They must re member that public service is politics and that they are politi cians. emerging technologies, cur riculum selection, prom loca tions, foreign exchange stu dents, collective bargaining, communication with staff, stu dents and community, and field trip policy. They must deal with budgets that don’t meet the district’s vision, bringing to gether families and community to celebrate the schools’ ac complishments, solve prob lems and sustain lasting im provement in the education of all students. It’s worth the effort. Finally, school board mem bers must serve as advocates, even cheer leaders, for their wage had been paid for the 235 volunteer hours spent on the process. No words can express the gratitude felt for these dedicated volunteers. The year 2001 has all the indications of being Two of Oprah’s Book Club novels have also a banner year for the library. Circulation and li been praised by local readers and, as thus, are brary usage continue to increase and volunteers on the “Reader Recommended” shelf. These are continue to be actively involved and supportive The_Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve and House of of library programs and projects. The Friends of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III. the Library are busily working on a final draft of A big decrease in the number of overdue li by-laws, after which a board of directors will be brary materials from last month to this month elected, and work on obtaining non-profit status has been noted. At present there are 58 items will continue. New materials continue to be overdue, compared to last month’s 145 items. added to the library’s collection. Some really Many phone calls and letters have been sent re nice donated materials are being added at the garding this matter and, hopefully, patrons are present time and a recent afternoon at Barnes & well aware that fines are in effect for overdue Noble resulted in some great new acquisitions. materials and will continue the trend to return Many of the newly donated books are Christ materials on time and thus avoid fines, extra ian fiction and will be greatly appreciated by lo work by staff and inconvenience to other library cal readers. New purchases include Devil’s patrons. Claw, J. A. Jance’s latest Joanna Brady mystery; Don’t forget Orissa’s after-school craft/story L.A. Dead, Stuart Wood’s latest Stone Barring sessions on Monday afternoons at 3:30 on ton adventure; and Roses are Red, James Pat school days and keep in mind that the next terson’s latest Alex Cross thriller. Other new pur meeting of the Friends of the Library will be Feb chases include Mercy Road by Dalia Pagani and ruary 13, at 1:00 p.m. at the library. Four Mothers by Shifra Horn. The success of the library is measured by New acquisitions for youngsters include The how well it meets the needs of community mem Rep. Betsy Johnson, left, and Columbia County Commis Tortoise and the Jackrabbit, Little Red Cowboy bers and by the positive involvement of its vol sioner Rita Bernhard. Hat and The Wolf is Coming. If you aren’t famil unteers. With these thoughts in mind regarding Rep. Betsy Johnson (D- with Representative Johnson. iar with the tongue-in-cheek approach that has the library, it certainly appears that success will “Rep. Johnson has been Scappoose) met with local been given to many of the familiar fairy tales, be be guaranteed for this new year. community leaders this week very helpful in maintaining an sure to look for one of these. Adults are finding as much or more enjoyment in them as are chil --------------------- ------------------------------ -------------- during Rural Oregon Day at the open door policy so that our community leaders and state Vernonia Library 701 Weed Avenue State Capitol. dren. representation can work to Hour»: Mon., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. “I think it’s great that com Cataloging is progressing at a nice, steady Tues., Thur. 2 p.m.*7 pm . W munity and business leaders gether on common goals,” rate. At present, 6,830 items have been cata from throughout our state are Bernhard said. Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. logued so they may be searched and checked “I’m here to be the people’s Preschool Story Time, Mondays, 10:30 a.m. taking the time to meet with out electronically. The savings to date if these Phone: (503)429-1818 legislators and explain the is voice in the legislature, and materials had been converted at the rate of .46 sues facing rural communities hope that all constituents feel an item is $3,141.80 or $1,527.50 if minimum today” Johnson said. “Rural welcome to drop by my office Oregon communities have any time they are in the Capi unique qualities and unique tol,” Johnson added. First District Rep. Johnson challenges that sometimes the represents Clatsop and Colum The INDEPENDENT is published on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. There people up in Salem lose site of bia Counties along Highway are five Wednesdays in January, so there will three weeks between this issue and the first is if we don’t remind them.” Columbia County Commis 30, and North Mist. Vernonia sue in February. Deadlines for the issue of February 7, 2001, will be February 2 for both news items and dis sioner Rita Bernhard was and South Mist are in the sec among those who went to ond house district and are rep play advertising, and February 5 for classified ads. Salem to participate in Rural resented by Elaine Hopson, D- Oregon Day activities and met Tillamook. By Nancy Burch, Librarian Vernonia Public Library Rural Oregon Day at the Oregon State Legislature — NOTICE —
