Letter to the editor: Let's honor school board members

January is School Board Recognition Month. School board members are elected in each of Stark County’s 17 individual school districts to establish the policies that provide direction for our public schools. They represent all of us, and take their responsibility seriously by attending meetings, conferences and professional development sessions.

School board members exemplify local citizen control and decision-making in education. They volunteer hundreds of hours and a countless amount of energy to ensure our schools are providing the best education possible for children of each community.

School board members are citizens whose decisions affect our children — what they learn, who will teach them and what kinds of facilities house their classrooms. It’s a huge responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly. They serve in an environment and climate that is increasingly divided, and their commitment is often thankless.

Often, we neglect to recognize the dedication and hard work of these men and women who represent us. So, thank you to the individuals who make it possible for local citizens to have a say about education in our communities. We acknowledge these public servants of Stark County whose dedication and civic responsibility make local control of our public schools possible.

Thank you to all school board members for your involvement in making a better tomorrow for Stark County’s students and community.

– John Richard, president, Stark Education Partnership

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter to the editor: Let's honor school board members