January is School Board Appreciation Month! I don’t know of another governing board that works harder, gets more complaints, and receives no compensation for their time and effort. The only compensation they receive is the respect and admiration of students and teachers for whom they work. January is the month set aside to recognize the 7 people who contribute their time and energy to guiding the San Saba ISD. These members are President, Kim Kirk; Vice-President Marcie Maxcie; Secretary, Kevin Shahan and members Michael Deans, Misty Everett, Angela Johnson and Susie Nettleship. Many people are unaware that school trustees are required to attend very specific training to be qualified for their positions as school board members. These members have combined, 577 hours of voluntarily attended training. This does not count the local meetings and workshops that this group attends on a routine basis. School board members serve because they have a deep concern about the education of children. This does not just mean the school work of children, it means the comprehensive education of children and what goes into education from the food they eat, to the buildings they are educated in, to the buses they are transported in and much more. Not in recent times have we seen such a difficult time in education. School Board members do truly have an immense duty at this time in Texas. The Federal NCLB regulations, the state accountability requirements, and the problems with school finance make it all very difficult to appropriately govern a school district. But our trustees have shown the vision, the fortitude and the stamina to navigate the troubled times. We appreciate our members who put forward the extra effort that is required to stand for higher expectations and sometimes upset the status quo with what is best for children.Please express your appreciation to our school board members each and every day, not just this month that is proclaimed, School Board Appreciation Month. Parents, let us know how we can help you the first day of school all the way until the last day of school!! Please check the website at www.san-saba.net for school information and follow us on facebook, too! If you have any question about this article or any other question about school happenings please contact me at 325/372-3144 or email me at lglaze@san-saba.net .