No one decides to run for school board with the idea that before the year is over, they are going to be distrusted and accused of misleading the community; however, often times, that’s exactly what happens.

Being on a school board, a village, town or city board can be a thankless job. That’s probably one of the many reasons that more people don’t choose to run. In this job, I have the benefit of observing a lot of boards from an outside perspective. I get to see town and school board meetings that have virtually no impact on me, as I don’t live in those areas, and it gives me an idea of why some seem to have great relationships with the community, while others don’t.

Last night, I attended a particularly painful meeting in Oxford. The Oxford Board of Education met for the first time after extending the contract of Superintendent Randall Squier, a step that the community and I thought they had put off during their last meeting. That was not the case. During the last meeting, there was confusion. Things were said that seemed to imply a decision wouldn’t be made at that time, and then a few minutes later, that decision was made in executive session.