Maybe not same old school board

An interesting thing can happen when a school board starts its new school year with a July organizational meeting. Occasionally, it's just the same members, having won elections as incumbents, extending their service into a new period. What else can happen, however, is that the dynamics can change with even one new member.

I know there is some criticism out there about the fact that Debbie Johnson-Berges, who expressed no interest in rerunning for her expiring seat, stepped up to fill the seat of Gary Urban, who made an unexpected exit in June, and is even still the president of the board, having been elected among a new slate of officers on Monday night. (Karen Januszek is vice president, Dan Gunder is secretary, and Kevin Packard is treasurer). I'm guessing it was because she was the member who had the most experience in the position.

I'm just an objective observer, having the opportunity to attend most of the school board meetings, among other governmental bodies, but I have seen that even a slight shift can affect the group dynamics, however. I just think that might be the case with Tecumseh's new school board. I have a feeling that there might be a little more discussion on matters that come up this year, maybe even the thoughtful approach. Like board member Lou Englund pointed out during board comment at the close of the meeting Monday, even board members learn from mistakes.

Granted, there have been situations where timeframe parameters come into play and the board members feel a little pressured to "Git 'er done" and move forward. Maybe that specter of not having a playing field for fall had a BIG pressure effect on moving ahead with the athletic complex, especially when the bleachers were condemned, for instance. I know that a suggestion to consider bidding out a sealcoating project for school roadways met with a response of, "But that might delay us getting it done in time for fall now," and maybe affected votes on the motion. These are just examples.

I did notice this, however. Some of the roll-call votes are being split rather than unanimous. Lou Englund and Jason Sines both cast nay votes on the slate of officers. Englund, for one, mentioned that he would prefer such votes be considered separately rather than all-or- nothing ventures. I also noticed that the board's newest member, Jimmie Rice, was not hesitant to vote no on a voice vote a couple of times, going "against the tide," even though it was his first meeting.

Do not read into these things anything that is not there. I'm not suggesting that the new board will be contentious by any means just because there are a couple members who are not afraid to disagree or go a direction other than the flow. I also know that the Recall effort is alive and well, targeting four seats, and time (and voters) will tell how that will play out. I AM suggesting that it is a different board with different dynamics, and that its members ARE looking at how they can do things better. I think the board members, who ARE in a thankless position, do want to do the best they can for the students and the community they serve, the same community they live in. There just might be some interesting discussions this year as they continue to try to build trust with each other — and with the public.