Honoring Our School Boards’ Commitment to Kids

From the Wisconsin Association of School Boards School board members serve their communities, by ensuring the next generation has the skills and knowledge to step into our future as leaders, workers and citizens.

This belief in the importance of helping students reach their potential — “Launching Our Next Generation” — is this year’s theme for Wisconsin School Board Week, observed Oct. 1-7.

This core belief motivates everything school boards do, from overseeing multimillion dollar budgets, to advocating for schools at the local, state and federal levels. School board members work to ensure that each student in their community, receives a world-class education that nurtures their talents and unlocks opportunity.

“You, as school board members, represent where schools and communities meet,” said state superintendent of public instruction Jill Underly. “What an incredibly hopeful place to be and what an incredibly important role to take on.”

In his proclamation designating Oct. 1-7 as School Board Week, Gov. Tony Evers commended school boards, for “the important role they play as advocates for public education and as essential partners in the state’s efforts to ensure that every kid in Wisconsin, has access to a high-quality public education.”

Public schools are the heart of our communities and our democracy, ensuring that every child has an opportunity to succeed. To oversee this important work and provide accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent, local communities elect school board members to govern public education.

Just as teachers advance student learning from the classroom, school boards work from the boardroom. Effective schools start with effective school boards.

School boards direct their districts through policy. They hire superintendents to manage day-to-day operations in school. They make hard budget choices.

School board service, never simple or easy, continues to be tested. School board members welcome feedback and accountability from their communities. Public input is most effective when it recognizes the common mission of citizens and school board members.

Throughout the year, locally elected board members devote a significant amount of their time and energy to our public schools, because they believe in the importance of strengthening our students and our communities. In addition to attending meetings, they spend countless hours preparing for meetings, studying issues and participating in professional development.

Our deepest appreciation is extended to the dedicated men and women, who provide the public voice in public education. Please join us in recognizing and thanking your local school board members for their work, leadership and public service, during Wisconsin School Board Week, Oct. 1-7.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards is a non-profit association that provides information and services to Wisconsin school boards, in the areas of school law and policymaking, bargaining, advocacy and leadership development.