May is School Board Recognition Month, and this year's theme is “Developing Iowa's Future Together.” The stated goal is to celebrate the work of school board members who are partnering with the school community, students, families and citizens.

Ever wonder how many people currently serve on school boards in Iowa? The answer is more than 2,000 (1,857 K-12, 79 AEA and 124 community college board members). These folks receive no compensation for their work and volunteer countless hours on board-related duties each month. With that service comes a great deal of financial responsibility. Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school board members oversee $6.57 billion statewide in Iowa public schools for 486,475 students. AEA board members oversee $393.2 million and provide special education, media and educational services to public schools.

Liz Brennan is the president of the Iowa Association of School Boards, a nonprofit organization representing Iowa's 327 public school districts, nine area education agencies and 15 community colleges.

“School board members serve to make a difference for students and ensure they have the building blocks needed for future success,” Brennan says. “They are committed to student achievement first and foremost, but also tend to the foundational elements, such as the budget, policies and district culture to make informed decisions impacting the entire community.”

I concur. And although we may not all agree on the directions that our local school boards are taking, we all do have the right to vote and select whom we want to represent us. Unfortunately, a lot of people complain, but very few vote.

I have written in the past how the political pendulum has swung very hard in one direction, even in our public schools, and it is now swinging very hard in another. Hopefully, it will balance in the middle at some point. Meanwhile, regardless of the varying opinions on school funding, transgender rights, books that should or should not be banned, and parental involvement, we should take the time to recognize the school board members who were selected via open elections to hammer out those decisions and create policies that will continually improve the educational opportunities for our youth.

And if you really want to make a difference and have your voice be heard, you can run for a school board seat, too.

Have a marvelous Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Local Children’s Store

1. Janes – Family Shop

2. Once Upon a Child

3. The Learning Post

SEE EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

Your Clear Mortgage forecast from Jason Parkin

Rain chances diminish as we move into the morning. We stay warm this week, and it appears we'll then stay mostly dry through Thursday. Better rain chances Friday and into the weekend.

For help with preapprovals or refinancing, get in touch with Jason at parkin.mortgage

Hands-on learning about animals

FFA members benefit from Animal Learning Center

By T.K. West

Students of the Southeast Polk FFA have been involved with the Animal Learning Center located at the Iowa State Fairgrounds since its inception. The program is open to all high school students. The only requirement is that students must take an agricultural course so that they have working knowledge of animal agriculture. Although the program is ran by the Southeast Polk FFA, if there are students from neighboring schools who want to participate, the district has also helped them gain hands-on experience.

“I believe programs such as this are important to students at the high school level for many reasons. It gives students exposure. Many of my students do not have animals at home. By participating in this program, it opens their eyes to fields they may not have considered,” says Southeast Polk High School Agriscience Teacher and FFA Advisor Taylor Brittain.

... Read more in the April issue of Altoona Living magazine.

These celebrities were born on this date: Bill Cowher, Domhnall Gleeson, Enrique Iglesias, Joe Bonamassa, Philip Bailey, Sir David Attenborough, Toni Tennille

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What do you call a chicken that is staring at a lettuce? CHICKEN SEES A SALAD (CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD!) - Gail Tomlinson, Rex Post

Today's Riddle

Who did the zombie take to the prom?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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