Serving on school board gives people a chance to serve district's students

Ellen Johnston

Board Member

Have you ever thought of serving on the Libby School Board?  If so, here is some good information you will need.  

There are seven of us elected for terms of three years. No, we receive no pay for this service. We are a diverse group coming from different walks of life. We are different ages, some of us have school-age children and some of us don’t.  

What we have in common is the desire to see that a quality education is available to the children of Libby.

Our job is to provide direction for district business. Alone we have no power, but as a group we make decisions to guide the district.  We do not micro-manage, rather we are responsible for hiring qualified administrators to carry out the board’s strategic plan, decisions and policies.

Our work must be transparent and done only in public. Our meetings, including committee meetings, are posted 48 hours in advance and are open to anyone who wishes to attend.  

Attendees of regularly scheduled meetings may address the board on non-agenda items and often weigh in on agenda items during discussion periods.  We take this public input seriously. However, in the end, the decision must be focused on what is best for the educational program.

Many times our decisions are controversial.  Close a school and combine students in two buildings.  Balance a budget impacted by declining enrollment.  

Ask taxpayers to help out. Decide what to do with an empty school in a prime location.  This is not an easy volunteer job, but is totally rewarding when we see academic gains yearly and a graduation rate equal to no other district in Montana.

Go for it!  Throw your hat in the ring and run for the school board.  The positives outweigh the negatives.

(Ellen Johnston is a School Board member.)