Page 40 - Considering College

During the ‘Your Community, Your University’ Tours, visits to high schools in the Panhandle and
South Plains—daytime visits while school was in session—had a larger number of students
present. Evening sessions were a more equal mix of students and parents, administrators, school

board members and other elected and appointed officials. Local school boards provide vision,
accountability, policy, community leadership and relationships, according to the National School

Boards Association. That was unmistakable in Childress.

The Childress crowd was small. It was after the dinner hour. The number of school board

members present was impressive. While many elected officials of every stripe have an impact on
family life in our communities, state and nation, school boards reflect and affect everything from

community values to property values. Of equal importance, they impact student achievement
according to the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. School Boards are the political kettles in which

local policy regarding families and their offspring are simmered out. It’s serious business.

Locally elected leadership in public education embody aspiration for an affirmative future. Great
schools are the progeny of great leadership. This is true of the school board that impacts decision-
making and policies directing educational offerings. Attend a monthly school board meeting;

sense the passion, engagement and seriousness with which most school boards deliberate issues
and make decisions. See what happens. Participate. Otherwise, shame on you, not them.

While many elected officials of every stripe have an impact on family life in our communities,

state and nation, school boards reflect and affect everything from community values to property
values. Of equal importance, they impact

student achievement according to the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.
School Boards are the political kettles in which local policy regarding families and
their offspring are simmered out. It’s serious business.

Passion was palpable on January 17, 2017, in Childress. People were engaged. Families had

questions. I distinctly remember a mother and daughter approached me after the formal
presentation to talk about the young lady’s acceptance into both West Texas A&M University and

Texas Tech University. They were undecided and candid with me about it. They were in a bit of a
stew over it. I told them, “Both Texas Tech and WT would provide an excellent campus experience.

WTAMU has a lower sticker price while TTU has more scholarship opportunities.”

I appreciated the predicament, but I also had a simple solution: “When the president of Texas Tech

comes to visit your school, share your dilemma with him and do whatever he says; however, if the
president from Texas Tech doesn’t come to visit and personally engage you in conversation, then

the young lady should probably come to WTAMU.” Student and Mom laughed, concurred and
waited.