School board members are typically unpaid volunteers, often parents who step forward to shape school policy, choose a superintendent, and review the budget. In most places, and during most times, it was a relatively unremarkable, yet vital position, one that few people paid attention to, or even knew who the members of the local school board were.
But times have changed, reflecting the divisiveness that exists when our country at this moment in time.
Look at some of these examples:
- A Central Bucks County (PA) School Board Vice President claimed that he received death threats on him and his family as a result of his stance on the wearing of masks in school.
- A Nevada school board member said he had thoughts of suicide before stepping down amid threats and harassment.
- In Virginia, a board member resigned over what she saw as politics driving decisions on masks.
- The vitriol at board meetings in Wisconsin had one member fearing he would find his tires slashed.
- In Vail, Arizona, speakers at a recent meeting took turns blasting school board members over masks, vaccines, and discussions of race in schools — even though the board had no plans to act on, or even discuss, any of those topics. “It’s my constitutional right to be as mean as I want to you guys,” one woman said.
- in Mesa County, Colorado, school board members were escorted to their cars by officers who had been unable to de-escalate a rowdy meeting.
- In several states, embattled board members who do not resign are facing recall efforts. Ballotpedia lists 59 school board recall efforts against 147 board members in 2021.
So I’ll ask my question again, who would want to be a member of a school board today?
My thanks go out to all school board members for your willingness to take on such a vital position, and I wish you the best as you work through these challenging times.
Sources:
I was generally bored in school, so I think I might be qualified to serve on a school board.
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your puns would keep the audience entertained, and perhaps throw them off their game a bit…
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With my puns, it would probably be best for me to be the one wearing a mask.
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The Masked Punster…
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Definitely a controversial place to be right now. No thanks!
A constitutional right to be as mean as she can???…… Oh peoples thinking is so screwed up!
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strange times, strange people…
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Yes, in the news I’ve seen increasingly aggressive behaviour from the participants of these session meetings toward the board members… Every time I just think, jeez how do you expect these people to do their jobs without anyone hating on them constantly…. Just terrible…
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I hope school board meetings can return to the time when nobody attended them…
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People can be horrid, and it’s not constricted to school boards. Clearly mask wearing is a bone of contention!
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yes, nasty people everywhere. and mask mandates are a touchy subject…
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These days we could say the same about flight attendants. Even before the pandemic, my impression (rightly or wrongly) was that serving on a school board was a massively boring and thankless job.
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yes, the poor flight attendants have been taking their share of abuse. I wonder if that also used to a boring and thankless job before COVID…
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In my school district, the school board can get the same health insurance as the employees, so there’s some benefit. On the other hand, as you said, they don’t get paid and have to tolerate a lot of grief. I had a recent discussion with one board member who said the only reason he’s stayed on the past two terms is that no one was willing to take his place.
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the health insurance is a nice perk – and they may need it after these meetings. It’s no surprise that school boards are having trouble finding someone to run for a position…
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i have heard about so many awful examples recently. it is painful to hear
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it is a sad state of affairs. I want to go back to the days when no one really cared about school board meetings…
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What a sad state of affairs we find ourselves in. Nobody will readily volunteer to be abused and here we witness the death of an ideal. Great post, Jim!
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thanks, Brad. and it is sad indeed. and at some point you have to wonder what type of person would want to run for such a position. you probably need a thick skin…
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Certainly not a position I would want. No one has the right to abuse another person. Or be “mean”… where do they get these ideas? Very sad.
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it is scary how some people act, and what their logic is for doing so…
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A very good question Jim.. a thankless task by the sound of it but I am sure that the students benefit and if you have children in a school you are at least have an invested interest.. It seems there are few consequences for those who feel that being discourteous to others is a right. Certainly issuing threats of violence online is a hate crime and should be reported.. trouble is with children at the same school it would have a knock on effect.. so no not a job I would take on… thought provoking .xx
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it’s amazing how quickly things can go at such meetings from a calm presentation to complete chaos…
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And nothing effective achieved for the children who should be the focus not individual egos and agendas of the attendees.. xx
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Good one! Yes, it’s tough but necessary. To get a “foot in the door” as it were, in order to ultimately advocate for better things for kids everywhere!
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it’s just too bad that some people try to ruin the experience for those volunteers…
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Why indeed? I wonder how many upcoming school board elections will be filled with candidates who want to control covid protocols (as opposed to concern over curriculum).
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I was thinking the same thing – what type of person would want to run for such a position. chances are they have an agenda, and not necessarily one that focuses on academics…
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This is all beyond my comprehension. Not sure what’s happening in the world right now, but it ain’t right.
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a strange time for sure…
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Depressing read, Jim. Not your fault, of course. But one despairs sometimes….thanks mate
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it is a sad state of affairs, Peter…
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cheers Jim
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👍
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Troubling times as our nation’s divisiveness continues to creep further into our daily fabric of life. When will it stop?
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I wonder what it will be like when covid is over. will there be something new to fight about?
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Hopefully we will be too exhausted to pursue more of this negativity.
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that would be a good kind of tired…
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I keep seeing these really sad videos on TikTok with school board members being (verbally) attacked by parents who are just absolutely awful and I honestly felt so bad for them. Imagine trying to keep someone’s kid safe and that’s the thanks you get.
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I am hoping that once COVID is completely under control, that people will become more civil, but I’m not overly optimistic…
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The problem is that I think some people are just awful in general COVID just showed their true colours. I feel like I’ve seen and heard things that I can never unsee/unhear and it sucks.
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that is unfortunate. hopefully such people just go back to living their own lives without disturbing the lives of others…
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I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Let’s just hope so for now.
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fingers crossed…
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That’s the same issues in our country too. Staff members, non-voluntary workers aren’t safe from 1-2 parents goon.
Hope better laws are proposed regarding this issue.
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I guess on the one hand it’s good to know it’s not limited to the U.S. But on the other, let’s hope that things calm down soon and people become more respectful of each other…
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thanks, Sally!
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I wonder the same thing? So sad 😦
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let’s just hope it’s a covid thing and people will better behave when it is over. fingers crossed…
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Amen! 🙂
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Arguments about vaccines and masks in my tiny town have escalated to shouting matches on FB, Jim. There was a supposed to be a school board meeting on Tuesday because a number of our teachers are threatening to quit if forced to get vaccinated or wear a mask. The meeting had to be cancelled due to an outbreak. Today is Thursday and four more unvaccinated people are dead. School is starting two weeks later, if it starts at all.
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You’ve said it all, Diana. Politicize epidemiology, and people end up dead.
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it is difficult to watch what is taking place. I hope things return to normal once COVID is under control, but I am not overly optimistic…
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So sad for our town, Liz, and all so unnecessary.
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scary, and strange, times. let’s hope this is over soon. sad to hear about people dying…
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But not surprising. We’re under 40% vaccinated.
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wow, that seems like such a low percentage…
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It’s not the lowest in the state. They’re rising, but slowly.
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it’s some comfort to know that you’re not in last place..
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I’m a vaccinated hermit. 🙂
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it sounds that way 🙂
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My daughter had a boy in her class at junior school who was obnoxious and became even more obnoxious when his father became a school governor! I do recall some decisive moments at PTA meetings if someone new came up with NEW ideas! Innocent days compared with the current problems.
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like father, like son. let’s hope it returns to those innocent days…
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Scary stuff, Jim.. as my nan would say what is the world coming too.. .
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that is a good question…
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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thanks!
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In this regard, on could agree with Trump, that school officials should also bear guns. A very sad thing. xx Michael
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I certainly doesn’t get to that point. sad, indeed…
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Was a bad joke, Jim. Its definitely a horrible time. Lets hope for the best. Have a nice weekend! xx Michael
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I hope you have a good weekend as well, Michael!
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I wouldn’t have that job for all the money in the world. Hats off to those who do.
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a thankless job for sure…
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