Letter to the Editor: Outgoing BOE VP Encourages Voters to Educate Themselves

The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by current Hillsborough Board of Education Vice President Marc Rosenberg.

To the Editor of the Hillsborough Patch,

As outgoing vice president of the , I personally will not endorse a candidate in this Tuesday’s election. That said, as I read the materials published by the five candidates and in the press, I find all of them qualified and eager to do the job. As you look at each candidate, here are four things to think about:

1. Has the candidate shown a genuine interest in the schools prior to the election? Has he or she volunteered at a school, helped with school activities, attended board meetings or otherwise shown a commitment to the education of our kids?
2. Is the candidate truly independent, free from undue influence of the two political parties in town? Of course, participation in a political party is fine, and in many ways a sign of interest in the future of our community. But the school district is an independent entity and, in my view, the needs of the district should come first, before party or partisanship.
3. Even in the context of affordability, which is important, does the candidate put the needs of our students first, as they should be? Do the candidates understand what those needs are? Remember, the nine-member Board of Education is charged with the education of OUR children, a monumental responsibility.
4. Finally, by their words and actions, do the candidates understand that their job is NOT to run the schools, but to make sure the schools are well run? This distinction is important because there is an important line between what the board does and what the school administration and staff do. We hire good people and let them do their jobs; then we evaluate the outcomes.

I urge everyone to read up on the candidates in the Patch and the Beacon, and to attend the Candidates’ Night at the High School on Monday evening. There, you will get to hear the positions and perspectives of each person on the ballot. This event will help you make a more informed decision at the polls.

As the school election draws near, I want to emphasize one more thing. The Board of Education was one of only a handful boards to vote to keep the school election in April, thereby giving voters a continuing say in the budget, and I urge everyone to vote yes on the budget. I am pleased to read that all five candidates support what is a good, balanced package that will enable the district to move forward, even in these hard economic times.

Please vote on Tuesday between 2 and 9.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve, and I wish the next Board of

Education great success.

Marc Rosenberg
Vice President, Hillsborough Board of Education