Education Law

What does being a school board member mean to me?

BoardBuzz read this essay by Urbana City School Board  president Warren Stevens (OH) and thinks it is just the kind of message to share as we begin a new academic year.  After reading the essay, how would you answer the question “What does being a school board member mean to me?”   

“For the last 6 years I have had one of the greatest experiences of my life serving as Urbana City School Board Member.  I have had the opportunity to see 6 senior classes receive their diplomas as I shook their hands and wished them well as they prepared to go forward into the world to pursue their dreams.  This year?s seniors were 7^th graders when I first was elected to the Urbana Board.  It has been a joy to watch these young students grow and learn over the last 6 years.  What makes the school board experience so rewarding is the fact that I believe in what I am doing.  Education, without a doubt, is the most important issue facing our local, state and national communities today.  I have also had the opportunity get to know and work with the administration, teachers and staff here within the Urbana City School District.  They are a total reflection of the Excellent State Grade Card Rating that the Urbana district has received for the last 2 years. 

The Ohio Hi-Point Board Member experience has been one that I have cherished over the last 6 years also.  I have watched enrollment grow from approximately 430 students to almost 700 this fall.  Satellite program enrollment has grown from zero when I first joined the Ohio Hi-Point Board 6 years ago to 1331 students as of Aug. 2009.  At the beginning of this school year Ohio Hi-Point Career Center opened up its Urbana Campus. 

 Being an Urbana University Board of Trustee Member has added another level to my education these past 6 years.  I have had the opportunity to see a new student Center and Football field build.  I have witnessed the expansion of the universities? graduate programs.  I have been given the opportunity to learn the education system from top to bottom (K-12 to Higher Education).

I have had the opportunity to make quite a few new friends as a result of my involvement with the Ohio School Boards Association, the National Schools Boards Association and the Conference of Urban Boards of Education.  Jennifer Economus, Legislative Specialist for the Ohio School Boards Association has presented Legislative Updates right here in our community 3 times over the past 6 years.  Richard Lewis, CAE Executive Director of the OSBA and Tawana Keels, President of the Ohio School Boards Association has spoken to the members of our community which were gathered at the River of Life Christian Center and followed the speech with a presentation award to the River of Life Christian Center for the many years of honoring our teachers within the community by organizing the Teacher Appreciation Day.  The award presentation was the first of its type that was ever presented by the OSBA in the entire history of the Ohio School Boards Association.  That is quite a compliment to our community.

I have had the opportunity to participate in an Ohio School Boards Association Video which allowed me to share some of my views with respect to being a school board member.  This opportunity was another experience that I feel was very valuable to me.  The entire video can be viewed on the Ohio School Boards Association web site.

My experience has helped me learn, grow and meet people from all walks of life from all over the country.  Life is about people and their attempt to improve the quality of their everyday life.  I hope that I have played a small part in helping to improve the lives of young people within our community these past 6 years.   I look forward to many more years of service to the community as your school board member.”

Warren Stevens, president, Urbana City School Board, Ohio

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on September 15, 2009 (boomark / email).