School board members thanked for their service during month-long observance
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Wharton, East Bernard and Boling Independent School Districts this month are joining other districts across the state to thank the men and women who volunteer their time and commitment on school boards.

It's part of School Board Recognition Month, which has been proclaimed by Gorvernor Rick Perry in recognition of the importance school boards play in the communities they represent.

"School board members serve countless hours working to make public education the best it can be for every child," Wharton Superintendent Don Hillis said.

"In a climate of change and challenge, they develop policies and make tough decisions on complex educational and social issues that affect the entire community and the lives of individual students."

East Bernard Superintendent Wayne Calhoun said the relationship between his position and the board works well because of how the education system is set up in Texas.

"The school board is essential to the process," he said. "They set the direction the district is headed in and where I get my marching orders. Because of the impact the district has on the students, the board is critical in helping to determine where a community is headed. While the state determines what is being taught, the trustees are the ones who decide how the process works on a local level. They direct and re-direct the emphasis on what is most important and change that emphasis in accordance with what the public wants for its children."

Calhoun said one of the greatest strengths of the system is the board being able to keep open the lines of communication between the community and the classroom. It is a system Hillis also relies on to stay informed.

"Preparing today's students to be productive citizens and leaders of tomorrow is a tremendous task," he said. "As elected officials, school board members are the voice of their communities, serving first and foremost in the best interests of our school children.

Boling Superintendent Charles Butcher said the efforts of the board members when not in an official role is another vital part of their relationship with the community.

"While the law states a board member isn't a board member until they walk into (the board room) once a month they do keep up with the pulse of the community," he said.

"As elected leaders, they can maintain a good working relationship with the public and detect if their is a problem or concern in the community. They also help inform the public on the process to getting things solved. Not every problem should go straight to the board and they can tell people what they can do to address a problem.

In addition to letting the public know how the process works, they also provide an important resource for school administrators.

"A lot of the time they will not only tell a parent want they need to know but also inform us about concerns they hear in the community allowing us to actually contact people with questions so we can address them."

The Texas Association of School Boards, more commonly called TASB, frequently refers boards as a "team of eight" recognizing the relationship between the board and the superintendent.

"The superintendent carries out the policies and financial decisions made by the board," Butcher said. "And the superintendent can make recommendations to the board."

In Wharton, the current board is made up of Board President Don Erdelt, vice-president Marc Aaronson, secretary Hazel Hurd along with Gary Ward, Billy Bahnsen, Paul Fertsch and Ronnie Bollom. As a group, they bear responsibility and oversight of an annual budget of $23 million, 2281 students in grades pre-K to 12, 399 employees and five school campuses.

The East Bernard Board includes president David Webster, vice-president James Kainer, secretary Mike Farrell and members Charles New, Brian Mica, James Vincek and Roland Orsak. The district's annual budget is about $7 million with 900 students, 132 employees and three campuses.

The Boling Board is made up of president David Looper, vice-president Donald Sciba, secretary Seferino Jimenez, Gerard Krenek, Johnny Fenn, Shawn Chilek and Russell Hubenak. The district's operating budget is $8.6 million with 936 students, 170 employees and three campuses.

"We proudly join educators and community members in saluting these education advocates as they provide vision and leadership for student achievement, academic programs, district funding and school facilities," Hillis concluded.