- By Dan Veaner
- Opinions
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In the Village election last month it was the same thing: two uncontested incumbents. It could be argued that things are going pretty well in the Village, and residents are content to accept the status quo. But there are a lot of contested issues in the Lansing School District. People have been very critical of everything from the budget to process used to select administrators to capital needs to teacher benefits.
If this were just grousing at cocktail parties it would be one thing, but many people have come to school board meetings over the past year to take a stand on one issue or another. And there are many important issues facing the district right now. Everyone is praying that after five or six years we finally have a permanent superintendent. The district needs to hire a permanent business administrator and elementary school principal. Many people have criticised next year's budget for its size and contents. The capital project was withdrawn when the Board realized it would not be supported by the community -- that will affect their credibility when the new project comes to a vote, possibly this December.
Being on the School Board is a thankless job. Even if you disagree with board members you have to admire them for their willingness to tackle the hard issues and spend an enormous amount of time representing all of us while doing the work of the district. They sit still for passionate and sometimes disrespectful lectures directed at them when someone disagrees with something they are doing. The meetings are so long you grow old sitting through them. You'd have to think more than twice before deciding to run!
But the thing is that if nobody runs, the community loses credibility when it disagrees with decisions made there. A contested election is an opportunity for the community to tell the Board of Education what we think. Having a choice means that the things really wants for the District have a better chance of happening.
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