March 23, 2011

We have had quite a bit of Board turnover this time around, and as a result I am now the second longest-serving Board member, following Keith Pillsbury (Ward 1).  The following is an open letter to our five new school commissioners, from one of the (new) old-timers. 

Dear new colleagues.

First, congratulations and welcome.  Now comes the fascinating and hard part.  It may not have occurred to you when you ran for this position that you would be partially responsible for managing an organization that spends almost 70 million dollars a year, bargains with employees in 7 different unions, adheres to an incalculable number of ordinances, regulations, directives, laws, and, of course most importantly, plays a major part in shaping the lives and futures of nearly 3700 children.  A few pieces of advice:

1. Don’t forget who you really work for.  We are voted into office by our wards, but none of the people we truly represent can vote – the kids of Burlington.  Our mission is to provide the best education possible for them, at the same time that we respect our hard-working constituents who foot much of the bill. 

2. Worry about passing the budget all the time – literally from the day after you pass the last one.  We pass our budgets when we maintain good communications with our constituents; act responsibly with kids as our focus; demonstrate efficiency, accountability and transparency; and make choices that reflect our best community values.

3.  Keep your eyes on the prize.  It is easy to get lost in the weeds of individual squabbles, personality conflicts, and personnel gossip.  A Commissioner’s job is to evaluate every circumstance through the lens of our core objectives.  Ask yourself what is in the best interests of kids, community, and (you guessed it) passing the budget?

4.  Rome wasn’t renovated in a day.  At any given moment there are an equal number of things to be really proud about – and to fix as soon as possible.  Choose your own core objectives wisely.  Every moment you spend on something relatively inconsequential is a moment not spent on fixing something really important.    

5.  Remember that being on the Board is different.  We aren’t teachers, administrators, single-issue advocates, or parents in this capacity.  The District can’t function at its best unless Board members fulfill their unique roles and responsibilities well and conscientiously.

6. Appreciate this opportunity to learn.  This is a great opportunity both to contribute to your community, and to learn about education, leadership, and democracy.  This can feel overwhelming, but you can ask all the questions you need to, and there are plenty of us to ask for advice.   

Congratulations once again, and good luck!