Slawson, Lesch Honored by MASB

Saline’s longest serving school board members, board President Lisa Slawson and Vice President Chuck Lesch, earned awards from the Michigan Association of School Boards for their continuous efforts to improve in their job.

Slawson earned the Master Board Member Award, which is the fourth of seven levels a board member can achieve in the MASB. Slawson was elected to her second four-year term on the Board of Education in May 2008. She and her husband Greg have lived in the Saline Area Schools District since 1998.

Lesch earned the Award of Merit, which is the second of seven levels a board member can achieve. Lesch was elected to his first four-year term on the Board of Education in May 2008. He and his wife, Jean, have lived in the Saline Area Schools District since 1990.

To achieve Level 1 and become "certified," board members receive 30 hours of classroom training in subjects ranging from school law and finance to community and labor relations. Higher levels of recognition require even more coursework, service and leadership responsibilities.

"I've worked with school boards and public schools for more than 15 years and am always in awe at the commitment of so many members. The time they spend being servant leaders and honing their skills are second to none," said MASB Executive Director Kathy Hayes. "Schools are under exceptional pressure to be innovative and reinvent the way they deliver education. Training equips them with the tools necessary to make the best decisions for Michigan's school children."

Both board members see their terms expire this year.

According to the MASB, school board members operate in a complex, ever-changing environment that requires they stay abreast of trends and issues facing public schools. One way they're able to keep pace with the fast-moving changes is to participate in training and professional development. Last year more than 1,000 school board members statewide participated in MASB's professional development program for elected school leaders. Collectively, school board members spent about 7,000 hours attending board training courses in the traditional classroom setting, and another 864 hours in the online setting. These hours are above and beyond the time members spend at their local meetings, events, reviewing policies and board packets.