It's the School Board that's in charge. They are the bosses. The School Board hires the superintendent, authorizes the budget, approves curricula and oversees the entire school district operation. If there are problems with the district, the ultimate responsibility rests on the shoulders of the School Board members.

Well, there have been problems, and plenty of them. Remember the 2002 levy we voters approved? The bulk of the money was meant for the Lakes Middle School remodel that never happened. Where was the School Board then? Did they know? If not, they should have, it was their job to know.

Or how about when more than $800,000 was paid to a local architect who made detailed construction plans for a brand new Lakes Middle School way too early in the process, before the levy was even up for a vote. He did the work, the money was paid and then the levy failed. The administrative decision to do business this way verges on criminal, but the public didn't know about the money until much later. Where was the School Board? Did they know? If not, they should have; it was their job to know.

And what about our quality of education? Test scores have been dropping, teachers are burdened with greater expectations, yet money and support are directed to upper level administration rather than the classrooms where real education takes place. The Cd'A school district has a much higher ratio of administrators to teachers than other districts in our area. Where is the School Board on this issue? They had to know: They hire the administrators. But it's their job to manage the balance better. Much better.

The current School Board members are nice people. They are community volunteers who have given tremendous energy to our district and care deeply about education. But that's not enough. They have to be able to manage the large, sometimes unwieldy and politically charged environment of the district. They must be willing to take a stand, ask probing questions and push for information. They must accept responsibility and build public trust with honest, open communication on a regular basis.

Two of the school board seats are up for election this next Tuesday. Not everyone in the district gets to vote, only people who live in the two areas represented by those seats. I get to vote, do you?

You can vote if you live in Zone 1, which is east of 15th Street or in Zone 3 which is west of Highway 95, over to Atlas Road. There are many schools in each of these zones, but you can only vote at Fernan Elementary in Zone 1 and at Ramsey Elementary in Zone 3. Just to make it even harder and more confusing, the voting hours at these schools are Tuesday, May 19, from only noon to 8 p.m. All of these restrictions make it less likely that people will turn out to vote. Guess who decides on the number of voting places and hours? Yep: The School Board.

Incumbent School Board Chair Edie Brooks is being challenged by Jim Purtee in Zone 1 which is east of 15th Street. Incumbent Bill Hemenway is being challenged by Terri Seymour in Zone 3 between Highway 95 and Atlas. So, please, if you live in these areas, get out and use your voice and your vote.

The quality of our children's educations, as well as our tax dollars, land on the desks of those we choose, so choose wisely.