Election for three school board members is again slated for the July Voters’ Assembly

A board of nine persons helps to supervise and set policy for St. John’s Lutheran School. Three persons are elected each year to serve a three-year term. The next election will be at the Voters’ Assembly on July 21.

Over the years the School Board has made a huge impact on the direction for the ministry of our school, and that is especially true for the last five years or so. The primary shift over the last several years has been to reinforce what is called an “accountable leader” model for organizational management. The board sets policies and then directs the principal to carry out those policies. While many decisions, especially ones involving finances and personnel, will come before the board, the principal will most often have a recommendation for review.

Actually, meetings have changed dramatically in recent years.  The board usually first received a report on a particular issue, and then discusses it in another, asking questions or offering input. Often decisions are not made until the third meeting and by that time, the board has had ample opportunity for discussion and debate. Building consensus is the board’s primary means of making decisions.

Board candidates should be active participants in the life and ministry of St. John’s Lutheran Church, regularly in worship and faithful in the reception of the Lord’s Supper. (SJLC Constitution, Art. IV, B.3.) However, two persons on the School Board may be non-members. Pastor Albers and Principal Berndt are ex-officio members of the board. The board meets monthly.

Currently one board member has indicated her desire to serve and another his willingness to serve. A third person, a school parent, has indicated his desire to serve on the Board where his son is enrolled as a kindergarten student. (His son has been at SJLS in preschool for several years.) A fourth, an active church member, is considering an invitation from congregational leaders.

Speak with Zach Alexander (Congregation President) or Pastor Albers to set up an initial interview. If there are any empty seats following the meeting on July 21, the Governing Board may appoint individuals to the empty seat and an election held in December.