The idea that Durango School District 9-R might cut its board from seven members to five makes sense on several levels. That it would attract a lot more people to serve on the board, however, is doubtful. And that is not necessarily bad. As in so many things, quality is more important than quantity.
A proposal to change the number of board members will be put before voters this November. The hope is that the smaller number will result in a more stable board membership. As board President Jeff Schell told the Herald, in his eight years on the school board, there has not been a single 12-month period when the board has had all seven members continuously. This fall will fill five of the seven seats.
Having five members could reduce that turnover, and in so doing increase the board’s effectiveness. In any organization, new members can bring new thinking and perspective. Bringing them up to speed on procedures and needed information, however, can also be time-consuming, diverting and tiresome. A balance is needed, and the number five seems reasonable.
In part of that also could improve the board’s internal dynamics. Five members might feel more like a team and less like a congress. That could foster more individual input and more lively discussion. It also could mean a more active and responsive board.
What a change to the board probably would not accomplish would be to attract more candidates. Besides civic involvement and the chance to do good, board membership entails no pay, a huge time commitment, a considerable amount of important, but tedious, minutia and the probability over time of being in the middle of controversy.
It is a lot of work. Schell figures he has been to 100 meetings in his tenure. Plus, board meetings typically start in early afternoon and often run to late in the evening.
Moreover, attracting more candidates is not necessarily a good thing. It would, of course, be great if District 9-R saw a flood of highly qualified, thoughtful community members whose only interest was in boosting the quality of local schools. But nationwide, too many people are drawn to school board seats to advance some personal religious or political agenda. District 9-R does not need that.
A few more good candidates would help. How to encourage that, however, is unclear. The switch to a five-member board could help by making the board more nimble and responsive, but that effect probably would be sleight. There is no reason to think the board as presently constituted is too cumbersome or hidebound.
What could also be considered, though, is a change to allow the voters to keep good people on the board longer. Schell is a case in point. He has served 9-R well and gained extensive experience. Whether he would stay if he could is not certain, but the fact is, he cannot; term limits require he step down after this term is concluded. In a situation in which knowledge and experience are hard-won and invaluable, that makes no sense and serves no purpose. That finding good people to fill the board can be difficult further highlights that absurdity. The board’s high turnover suggests it is not in danger of having many members view it as a lifetime job.
Changing the number of board members makes sense. Seventy-five percent of Colorado school districts already have five-member boards. There should be no illusion, however, that this move would mean radical change.
