School Board Meetings: Are You a Bystander?

Do you remember after-school fights?  Where two kids met at 3 p.m. and started to brawl; then a brave person jumped in to break it up only to be sucked into the fight? Next, one of their friends joined in to protect them, and within seconds, it's mayhem. I place school board meetings in the same likeness, except that instead of being a bystander and watching, you do not have the right to sit back and let the fight for education occur without any input. 

Each school board member has a problem to solve and has  agenda items to address with good intentions, but due to personal agendas, lack of knowledge or great intent, the concern sometimes get lost. School board members are responsible for a myriad of tasks including: setting policies, celebrating achievements of the schools, managing finances and hiring a new superintendent. 

Living in the Cobb County School District, it is your right and duty to be involved in school board meeting process discussions. You can watch on TV, attend in person, or contact your representative. Your opinions are valuable. For instance, at every school board meeting there is time allotted for citizen comment whereby anyone can come and speak on an issue.  This time allows opportunities for a citizen to introduce new ideas, clarify situations, voice disdain or praise for the actions of the board.

School board meetings in general allow citizens to understand and receive clarity on school policies or issues and identify the general issues of the school district. There is always something at the school board meeting that touches someone. Here in Cobb, it could be the school calendar or the hiring a new superintendent. The meetings also allow the opportunity to witness the behavior of the board members and how they interact with each other because the behaviors affect the educational atmosphere of the district.  Since it is the responsibility of the board to focus on the needs of the schools, when they get off track (by bickering, etc.), it is you, the citizen, who is responsible for reining them back in by joining into the conversation.

Whether or not you agree or disagree with policies or do not like current board members, it is important to engage in the process. You can write letters to share concerns, attend town hall meetings or the school board meetings. There are a great many ways to include yourself in educational fight without getting into hand to hand combat and still allowing your voice to be heard.   

The next school board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. with public comment beginning at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Cobb Central Office at 514 Glover St. in Marietta.