Sure, I gripe about the sheer number of school board meetings I attend in the course of my duties here at Chenango County’s Hometown Daily. (Which I fully maintain is over and above what any human should be forced to endure.) But while I may moan and complain about the drudgery of attending frequent meetings in multiple districts, I don’t disdain the boards themselves.

Despite their drama and occasional dysfunction, I fully recognize the importance of the roles these school boards play in our public education system. They are as integral to our schools as the teachers, the administrators and other staff. They provide policy and fiscal oversight for the district, but they truly help chart the course for the future for not only the community, but really our society as a whole.

The job isn’t without its challenges. And it’s a thankless one, too. Since they are the ones making tough decisions, and very much in the public eye, they often take heat from different stakeholders. So, why do they do it? Because they’re dedicated to the community. They care about our schools, our students. They recognize the need for dedicated community members, willing and able to serve, and they answer the call.