LETTER: Thank your school board this month

By proclamation of the governor, January is School Board Recognition Month. It's a great time to recognize our elected community members who selflessly give their time and energy in support of high-quality public schooling for our youth. School board members in the Soap Lake School District are entrusted by this community with responsibility for an annual budget of $11.4 million, 479 students, 105 employees and three buildings.

School boards are charged with making decisions that can sometimes be quite difficult, or require sifting through a great deal of information. They also bear responsibility for developing a vision that will guide the school district for years to come. Through collaboration as a team, and with school district staff, their governance and advocacy are building the future of education in Washington state.

This January, we're encouraging all members of the community to thank a board member. Please thank them for volunteering their time and playing a critical civic role that helps form the bedrock of our democracy-public education. As a crucial bridge between the local community and the school district, their efforts are instrumental in helping all of us realize the hopes and dreams we have for the children of our community.

The men and women serving on the school board and their years of service are: District No. 1: Signe Knudsen - 11 years of service; District No. 2: Donald Clark - seven years of service; District No. 3: Curt Dotson, President - 17 years of service; District No. 4: Nicole Frazier - five years of service; District No. 5: Dwight Deines- two years of service;

For more information about the Soap Lake School District School Board, visit www.slschools.org.

Kim Casey

Soap Lake School District superintendent