By Michael Hoyt, Corvallis
Education is the foundation of our society. And unlike what occurs in many states where the state assumes the lead role in education, the ultimate responsibility for quality public education in Montana rests with the local school board. Our Montana Constitution places both the supervision and the control of public education in the hands of each district’s school board.
Our state’s best school board members know they are in the business of education. The best school board members should constantly talk about education, study the needs of students and society, and base their decisions on what is best for the children they have been elected to serve.
Board members must know the difference between governance (their job) and management (the school administration’s job) and make decisions based on that understanding.
I’m certain the current members of the Corvallis School Board are conscientious individuals, each of whom believes that, given current budget limitations, they are making the best possible decisions. Unfortunately, a different impression of their actions is held by many of the residents who live in the Corvallis School District.
All of us who survive the rigors of everyday life, owe much of our existence to our education. We are thankful to the individuals who taught us what was required to become successful and valuable citizens. Life-long learning has convinced us that good, experienced teachers are the backbone of our society. Without those individuals, everyone’s lives would be less fulfilling and our society in a far more dismal state.
It is disconcerting that the Corvallis School Board seems to be unwilling to meet the simple request of the Corvallis teachers to recognize the value of on-the-job experience and financially reward teachers who elect to remain in the District year after year. Instead, it appears the Board desires to continue nudging experienced teachers out of the District and replace them by hiring less experienced (and less expensive) new teachers.
For many years now, the District’s annual budget has produced a surplus which, at the end of each fiscal year, was quickly spent on someone’s pet projects or placed into a “reserve fund,” a fund that now holds in excess of $800,000. It is usually a good thing to have funds left over at the end of a year. However, given that large amount of money sitting in reserve makes the oft-repeated threat of “changing the salary structure will force a reduction of staff (teachers),” or the claim “that there is not enough money in the budget to cover the cost of the teachers’ request,” seem disingenuous.
A good School Board should represent all District constituents honestly and equally. That means equally considering the interests of students, teachers, other staff, and administrators when making budget decisions. Although each individual board member surely feels they are doing just that, the appearance is otherwise.