Letter: Work and dedication of school board members should be recognized
The role of a public school board member has become one of the most difficult in our nation. As school boards deal with increasing academic standards and decreasing financial resources to accomplish these standards, it requires more time and dedication than at any other time in history.
Understanding the importance of balancing academic support, with the ever-increasing need for student safety, puts today’s school boards at a higher level of responsibility than ever before.
Local school boards must provide passionate advocacy for the welfare of students to all levels of government. This advocacy requires significant understanding of how decisions made in Olympia and Washington, D.C., affect the school district in which they serve.
The Prosser School Board — Peggy Douglas, Bill Jenkin, Bruce Matsumura, Andy Howe and Warren Barmore, and student representatives Taylor Beightol, Tye Taylor, Juan Guerra and Zebbie Castilleja — is working hard to send a clear message regarding our students’ needs to our lawmakers.
Please join me in thanking our board members for the difficult work they have undertaken. Gov. Inslee has proclaimed January as School Board Recognition Month. I urge you to recognize the work and dedication of our school board.
Dr. Ray Tolcacher, Superintendent, Prosser
This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Letter: Work and dedication of school board members should be recognized."