Critics should file to run for school board

Editorial

   Perhaps people are distracted by impending war, terrorist threats and an unrelenting winter.
   But the deadline to file for the April 15 school board election is Monday and as of Wednesday morning, there were exactly two petitions returned. And they’re both incumbents — Michael Brindle and Michael Wilson.
   If we take the third incumbent, Michael Winka, at his word, his petition will be turned in by the deadline and Lawrence will have an election with incumbents running unopposed for their three open seats on the Board of Education.
   This is highly disappointing.
   It’s not that we want to see a race for these seats because it makes better newspaper articles. It’s not even that we necessarily believe any of the incumbents are doing a poor job. It’s just that we know there are people who do think that way.
   There’s been a great deal of discussion about the township schools in recent months, whether it has been the referendum, state-issued school report cards or the state of the special education program. And not all of it has been positive for the district.
   More than 800 Lawrence residents opposed the $37.2 million school improvement plan. We’d like to believe that at least some of them did so for reasons other than the tax burden. We’d like to believe that some voted "no" because they didn’t approve of the actual plan.
   In letters to The Lawrence Ledger, we’ve heard from residents who say they have no faith in the current administration.
   Well it’s easy to vote against a referendum. And it’s easy to criticize an administration. It’s much more difficult to do something about it.
   But the opportunity does exist.
   The school board gives the average citizen a chance to have some say in the way public money is being spent and the manner in which the township’s children are being educated. Political affiliations don’t matter. There’s no special skills needed for the job. If you’re 18 years old, able to read and write, and a U.S. citizen, you’re qualified.
   Yet, no one other than the incumbents has filed a petition as of yet.
   Unfortunately this is far from unusual. In the 2002 school board election, there were three incumbents running unopposed. And in 2000, two incumbents and one newcomer ran unchallenged for the three seats. Only in 2001 has Lawrence recently had a true race for the school board, with two incumbents and four newcomers.
   Lawrence certainly isn’t the only town in the area with a lack of candidates, but it is a town where people have vocally criticized the school administration.
   There’s still time to do something about it. Petitions are available at the school board office at 2565 Princeton Pike and must be returned by 4 p.m. Monday.
   A three-year term on the Board of Education gives a resident a voice in the direction of public education in Lawrence Township.
   A loud voice.
   Louder than any referendum vote or any letter to the editor.