They are concerned about education, including their own, and will dedicate the time required. That, however, cannot be said of all members. Higher standards for our students and teaching staff are realities. We have been told that if you raise the academic bar and challenge and demand more, results will improve. Our children and educational leaders will be better prepared for the new millennium.
Good decisions require informed decision-makers.
Mandatory training, whether handled in-house or done by outside experts, will improve the image of your school board, encourage more mutual respect between board members and administrators, and enhance community support. Such training should be welcomed, not feared. Harry Brown has been a school board member for the Bay Shore Union Free School District in Suffolk County since 1991. He is general manager of a manufacturing firm on Long Island. I believe that school board training is an excellent way to prepare board members to perform their duties effectively.