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Operating in the Best Interest

I am troubled by the name-calling and cries of partisanship that has been reported by this newspaper regarding the Board of Education. From my experience, it is challenging and sometimes difficult to serve in the minority on a board. It takes patience, communication, and mutual respect for your fellow board members.

In the years that I served as a member of the Board of Selectmen, there were heated debates on policy, procedure and budget. Many times, I disagreed with members of the opposing party, but we forged ahead through discussion and debate. Was there always a compromise? No. I understood that I was not always going to persuade my fellow board members to vote with me. Was I upset that my view was not always the way the vote went? Yes, but I voiced my opinion without devolving into personal attacks and rancor.

Maybe it’s the climate at the national level that is driving the emotions, but that doesn’t mean we should allow it at our local level. The people that I know who sit on Board of Education are hardworking volunteers who are operating in the best interest of our students.

As a taxpayer, I applaud the effort to make the board more transparent and accountable by creating a communication committee. As a parent, I applaud the effort to have one committee focus on our student’s needs and another that can focus on the facilities’ needs. As someone who is political, I applaud the Board of Ed members who looked at its structure and said we can do better—for the ourselves, for the town, but more important, for the kids.

Joan Walker

Madison