Michael Gruber
Sartell
Prior to the ISD 748 School Board voting to renew its administrative contracts last month, Emily (Larson), Scott (Wenshau) and Jen (Smith) made one simple demand: to first exercise their vested authority as elected representatives to discuss, amend and vote on the contracts individually, rather than passing them all in a bundle per the superintendent’s recommendation.
They were right to stand firm on this. Elected representatives, not unelected appointees, are the ultimate authority in providing oversight for public institutions. Deferring to an unelected appointee’s recommendation inverts the natural relationship between public institutions and the public which supports them. Continued deference erodes the public’s trust. And it is the voting and taxpaying public, through their elected representatives, who say how their institutions ought to operate.
It has been suggested Jen, Scott and Emily were “overreaching” in their vested authority, and focusing on operations instead of governance. I fail to see how reviewing administrative contracts is not governance. The accusation has also been made they had a personal vendetta against a singular employee, but even after repeatedly asking some district residents who’ve made this argument, I’ve yet to be shown any evidence this is the case.
The board is not merely a “rubber stamp” to give approval to an unelected appointee’s recommendations. They are the representation of the will of the electorate. Our public institutions should reflect the values and priorities of the people they serve. The superintendent, administrative staff and teachers of ISD 748 are not elected officials. The school board is, and it is therefore the right of the school board to exercise democratic oversight as needed. If the public does not agree with the choices of the board, then they have recourse through regularly scheduled elections where they have an opportunity to elect other candidates.
I support Jen, Emily and Scott’s decision and would support any board member who likewise made a motion to separate out any item in the consent agenda that did not have unanimous board approval. I will hold true to that if I am elected to the board in November.
