Public service is not a choice, but a duty

Back on Oct. 7, the Carlton school board itself went to school. Members met for three hours with a representative of the Minnesota School Board Association to receive instruction on Minnesota law, school board rights and responsibilities, Robert's Rules of Order, and several other subjects pertaining to the proper function of a school board.

Carlton schools are facing significant challenges, but all six of the people governing the schools still found time to work on making themselves better board members.

As a former school board member myself, I have a special perspective when it comes to reporting for the Pine Knot on district meetings, and I can spot integrity when it happens. I'm glad to see that there is plenty of it in the school boards I observe and write about.

But I do fear for the future. Statewide, there is a shortage of people willing to run for public office. There are plenty of people willing to serve on the school board in Carlton this election, but in Cloquet, for instance, only two candidates signed up for three seats. There is someone running as a write-in candidate, but it's clear there was a lack of interest in the job when candidates were due to file.

Other layers of government are similarly affected. The Carlton County Board of Commissioners has only one candidate for District 3. The Cloquet City Council has only one candidate for every open council seat, all incumbents. We're glad that at least one person wants to serve in those offices, but if there is a trend here, I can see where it is going.

After serving nearly 10 years on the Cloquet school board, I can tell you that it is an enjoyable, rewarding experience. I was always very curious about how government works, and in Cloquet at least, it works pretty well. I found that people who work in schools, teaching our children, are among the finest folks on the planet. We don't pay our educators enough, so they must be in it because they love children and because they love the job.

As a school official, it is thrilling to see kids grow up. School boards hear and rule on some of the individual discipline issues, which can be concerning at the time, but the vast majority of those kids grow up and turn out just fine. Then there are the achievers, in sport and academics, who also make us proud.

Some issues have been contentious, and some constituents have not been shy about making their feelings known, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and the middle school referendum. But through all that, I never received a threatening message. By and large, all communications to me were respectful and thoughtful and came from people deeply concerned about the same things I was: the education of their young people.

America is great, in part, because we have people who stepped forward at crucial times. Maybe it's a part of the American character, or maybe it is pure luck, but I have always wondered what would have happened if instead of public service, Abraham Lincoln had decided to become an author, Franklin Roosevelt entered business for himself, or George Washington had remained a farmer.

Take it from me. You don't have to be George Washington to be on the school board. The main qualification is the ability to listen. I'm asking that this community, and the country at large, buck that trend we are seeing and make public service not a choice, but a duty. Step forward, whether its city council, county board, election judge, legislator or school board. Not sure if you have enough to offer? Let the voters decide. If you are lucky enough to get in, as I was, you will not be sorry.

Ted Lammi served on the Cloquet school board for over nine years and is now a freelance writer for the Pine Knot News, covering Carlton and Esko school boards when available. Contact him at [email protected].