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 —