Wisconsin’s 421 public school boards are the essence of representative government. Just as the citizens educated by our public schools form the backbone of our democracy, the boards that govern those schools live out democratic principles every day.
Wisconsin School Board Week is Oct. 4-10, and it’s a chance to recognize the men and women who volunteer to serve their communities and children. School board members serve part-time, though they have accepted a challenging role. They must be accountable to their taxpayers while setting a long-term vision for their schools. They advocate for children at all levels of government and oversee multi-million-dollar budgets. Boards set the course for their districts on hundreds of topics, from school safety to financial planning to academic standards. They also hire and evaluate their district superintendents, approve contracts and do so much more. In addition to preparing for and attending meetings, board members spend hours studying the issues and participating in professional development. We’re asking our fellow Wisconsinites to take this opportunity to recognize and thank their local school board members for their public service. Thank you to our Clintonville Public School District Board Members: Lori Poppe, Laurie Vollrath, Kris Strauman, Jim Schultz, Mark Zachow, Larry Czarnecki, and Ben Huber.