Time to honor departing public board members

It’s the beginning of a season of change for our elected boards around the county.

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of listening to NWC trustee Larry Todd during his final meeting on that board, and I see some Cody school board trustees also just finished their final meetings before leaving a board. All have devoted at least four years, and some like Todd and Cody trustee Stefanie Bell, a whole lot more. The Park 1 board here in Powell is also saying goodbye to one member, Laura Riley, who served the board for one term.

Especially at the volunteer board member level, that’s an incredible accomplishment. These are people who have given up so much of their time and focus over the years for something not based on personal gain, but on community service.

They are also part of an institution at the heart of our constitutional republic — the citizen politician.

These are people who answer to voters and who have worked to represent their interests through some tough issues over the years that have at times divided the community.

These board members, and those who make it their duty to be informed and vote for their positions, are the people who make some of the most important decisions in our communities. They’ve hired superintendents and presidents, discussed and/or approved policies on controversial topics such as what books are acceptable in schools and whether teachers should be able to concealed carry. They’ve worked on building projects — just look at the new, soon-to-be-opened Northwest College student center — and dealt with a pandemic and lean financial years.

They’ve participated in this wonderful American experiment.

“We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate,” said one of the founders and America’s third president, Thomas Jefferson.

So, let’s honor these departing board members and others who will soon be leaving their posts, and continue to be engaged in the work of those who remain and those newly stepping into these oh-so-important, but often undervalued, roles.