No, not that election day. That’s two months from now.

It’s school board election day. Have you voted yet? Please do.

And while you’re at it, take a child with you. Show them you take seriously the responsibilities of democracy. Let them put your ballot in the vote counting machine. Explain why you’re voting.

Don’t let this be another year kids ask why fewer than 10 percent of their friends’ parents care enough about schools even to vote.

School board members do make a difference. We’ve all seen that this past year.

Students’ performance is what we’re all working for. And the teacher-parent partnership is central. School board members know who’s doing that work.

But consider what the school board has done this past year. Our school district has some of the best educated students – and parents – of any school district in the country. To strive for “number one” would put too much stress on everyone. Besides, how would you measure it?

But the Iowa City Community School District can be, and is recognized as, among the nation’s best.

That’s this school board’s goal.

That means every aspect of our school system. Students’ test scores? Of course. “Educational climate,” too. Mutual respect between teachers and students. Students experiencing democracy. Every student an honored student.

It means the condition of our buildings. A quality curriculum. Class size. Parental involvement. Before- and after-school programs. Pre-schools. Well-paid teachers accorded respect and opportunities for professional development. Good labor relations. Awareness of the latest research. Pilot projects evaluating innovations. Open communication with the community through meetings, surveys, publications and a first-class Web site. The most creative and effective tools for management, administration and evaluation.

It means finding and encouraging the kids who aren’t in school, and the parents reluctant to come to conferences. Visits in homes or the ped mall when necessary. A compassionate and creative alternative school.

But it also means innovative board members who know the difference between policy and administration. How to be activist without micro-managing. How to let administrators and staff do their best. Board members who do long range planning, set goals and monitor accomplishment.

That’s what this board is trying to do.

Its practices are described in national journals. Its leadership is watched by the state’s Urban Education Network and Iowa Association of School Boards. Both groups have requested presentations regarding this Board’s innovations in leadership.

The board has fashioned policies for board governance, executive limitations, and board-superintendent linkage. The procedures for citizens’ appeals from administrative decisions – with a detailed illustrative opinion. A management information reporting system. Pamphlets on communicating with the district, and parental involvement in reading. It’s worked with teachers to create the district’s first specific, measurable academic goals for reading, writing and mathematics. Now it’s fashioning educational climate ends policies and three-year goals and objectives.

This board’s focused on its own educational climate, too. Negotiations with teachers and staff have never gone more smoothly. The teachers’ two-year and SEIU three-year contracts were breakthroughs. Board members display a sense of camaraderie instead of conflict. A sense of humor instead of hostility.

And the mutual respect extends to the superintendent and his administrative team.

Individual board members volunteer for projects like parental involvement, management information systems, regular reports of national educational news, writing board policies, or addressing the needs of special education students.

That takes time. So do the monthly meetings in the schools and work sessions added to the regular meetings. These Board members are willing to do the work – and for no pay.

Schools districts like ours don’t just happen. Students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, community members, and the media all play a part. But school board members play their part, too. And that’s where you come in. Because you pick ‘em.

As a School Board member myself I make no recommendations as to whom you should vote for. But I have no hesitancy in recommending that you vote. Today.

Don’t forget.

Nicholas Johnson is an Iowa City School Board member. More information is available on his Web site www.nicholasjohnson.org.