As the month of January begins to wind down as does a special time of thanks given to the men and women who commit their time and energy to serving the students and families of USD 253 Emporia Public Schools.
In addition to being the first month of the new year, January is also known as School Board Appreciation Month and during the most recent installment of KVOE’s Emporia Showcase interim USD 253 Superintendent Allison Anderson-Harder was joined by USD 253 Board President Mike Crouch and Vice President Leslie Seeley joined the program to discuss their work.
On top of serving the district, all seven members of the board also have full-time jobs and families of their own, meaning the time commitment to the board can weigh heavy on the board members and their loved ones. When it comes to balancing the commitment to personal and professional life Crouch says it is all about prioritization.
Both Seeley and Crouch agreed this past year has been likely one of the most challenging due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During this time the board has had to make a series of difficult decisions and has received a large amount of input and feedback from district parents and students.
Seeley says this is very encouraging as all feedback from district patrons is crucial, whether you want to hear it or not.
Crouch stated that while the job they do is difficult it is important as the district is much more than just a source of education for students. He says the district acts as a safe place for students and also provides crucial services such as food service, in some cases clothing, and several other services that families rely on.
Towards the end of the interview, Anderson-Harder stated that the board’s work goes far beyond just holding two meetings for a few hours each month and they deserve to be recognized for the time and energy they put into ensuring the district runs as effectively as possible.
