He recognizes, as did de Toqueville over 150 years ago, the uniquely American role of volunteers, and their relation to the success of democracy. De Toqueville said without them American “civilization itself would be endangered.”
Volunteers. What Ralph Nader says we all should be: “public citizens.”
Fortunately, civilization, democracy and public citizenship are not endangered in Johnson County. A county with the third highest educational level in the United States produces great volunteers. One of our many resources and strengths.
Our school district is especially blessed in this respect. Over 1500 volunteers contribute in very substantial ways to making it the outstanding district that it is.
Among them are the school board members themselves.
And before we get too caught up in the excitement and potential of our new board, let’s pause long enough to thank those who have recently left: former President Susan Mims, Vice President Cindy Parsons, and Dr. Linda Levey.
Each contributed many hours of community service even long before they undertook the demands of school board membership.
Without the pressures of my other “89 highest priorities” I would delight in treating the school board as a full time, 70-hour-a-week job. The experience is rewarding. And it easily could take that many hours.
In fact, if Susan Mims had been paid even minimum wage for the hours she put in over the last three years we’d have a lot more serious budget problem than we do. (And I can’t even begin to calculate what Al Leff’s 11 years would have cost us!)
Board meetings are the least of it.
More time for meaningful input from the community at regular board meetings held for that purpose. In the schools.
More communication to the community. At regular superintendent meetings.
The details will emerge in time. Meanwhile, we need community patience and support. Our new superintendent is as friendly, open and humble as any district could hope for. Seven board members of quality and good will who start off on the same page. That’s an enormous opportunity.
Give us the freedom to innovate – and, yes, to make mistakes. We’ll make our share. But we’re relatively confident you’ll like the end result.
Policies are another matter. You haven’t liked all of the board’s decisions in the past. Neither have I. That’s fine. Robust, wide-open policy debate is healthy – within the board and within the community. It produces better policies.
But the new board’s talking about an innovative, more open process there, as well.
The new board meetings may involve a review of Ed News. What’s going on in 200 countries, 15,000 school districts, one federal and 50 state departments of education, uncounted colleges of education and trade publications.
Please give us some breathing room here as well. Just because you hear us talk about an idea doesn’t mean it’s about to become district policy. For starters, 90 percent of what comes out of such brainstorming sessions will be rejected – and ought to be. Possible proposals will be thoroughly staffed out. There will then be plenty of time for input from students, parents, teachers and administrators. Few policies will survive the process without revision – or rejection.
The process is not about advocacy for, or against, present programs. It’s not about hitching our wagon to every latest fad. It’s about opening our minds to the best ways to prepare our students for the 21st century.
The voters have cleaned the schools’ chalkboards. We’re starting fresh.
Come join the fun. Give us your ideas. Volunteer.
Nicholas Johnson is a member of the Iowa City School
Board.