For example, in most Indiana communities the school district is the largest employer within that particular town, city or local governmental agency. This is why we encourage our staff members to live and make their purchases local. We know that every dollar spent in Perry Township generates a seven-fold profit within our local businesses.
We also understand that a flourishing community creates a vibrant, growing atmosphere that seems to be contagious. We also know that a vibrant and growing school district attracts families to a community that in turn has an impact on home values. People invest in real estate when they see the potential for a future profit. Successful schools walk hand in hand with successful communities. This reality leads us to the importance of your school board.
If you do not regularly attend school board meetings, you may not be totally aware of the duties and scope of responsibilities our board members carry out. These elected officials are charged with the responsibility to provide direction and focus to the superintendent in delivering the educational program to the almost 16,000 children.
We are extremely fortunate to have a group of people that care deeply about the children in our community and truly want to provide the best educational program possible. Helping students meet their career dreams and offering them the experiences to make those key decisions is truly a goal every day school is in session.
Responsibilities of a board member are vast: monitoring the expenditures of the district and representing the constituents’ viewpoints include the taxpayers, the staff and especially the students. A board member must keep an ear to the concerns affecting the daily operation of our school families while routing those concerns to the appropriate administrator.
We asked one of our board members, Mr. Jon Morris, a lifelong educator, why he liked serving on the board: “Because of my background as a classroom teacher, an administrator, a parent, a grandparent and an adjunct professor, I have been directly involved in decision making relating to all things having to do with education. I enjoy being part of a team whose main job, it is, to be a servant to others.”
Mr. Morris, who contributed to this article, added, “I consider it a privilege to have been elected to serve on the Perry Township School Board and to have been given another opportunity to serve teachers and students in an unusual role for a former classroom teacher and administrator.”
I’m certain our entire school board would echo the thoughts of Mr. Morris. We are fortunate to have board members who enjoy serving others, especially our students. These individuals understand that they may disagree individually on a topic, but when the vote is taken and the gavel is struck, they all support the final decision.
We are grateful for the energy, the time and the servant leadership model that is used in governing the school district.