A salute to school board members

To the editor:

The Jackson School Board members are dedicated citizens who carry out the truest form of representative government through volunteer public service. The week of Jan. 23-29 has been declared School Board Recognition Week by the Missouri School Boards Association. It is a time for students, parents, faculty, staff and community members to salute these unpaid volunteers who serve public education on behalf of the community.

Being an effective school board member is no easy task. Members need to be knowledgeable about many complex educational and social issues. Jackson board members' service ensures that decisions about our public schools are made as close to the needs of our children and community as possible. Our board members also serve as examples for our young people of the excellent tradition of volunteering that is a hallmark of our society.

Hats off to the dedicated men and women who make it possible for local citizens to have a say about education in our community. We salute the public servants of the Jackson School Board whose dedication and civic responsibility make local control of public schools in our community possible: Gerald Adams, Cathy Goodman, Mack Illers, Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, Teri Tomlin, Brent Wills and Jim Woeltje.

Dr. RON ANDERSON, Superintendent, Jackson School District, Jackson