The dull roar of competency

There’s a reality to the blog business:

They’re not all humdingers.

I know. You’re shocked. Readers open their phones each morning expecting 700 words of prose bliss to start the day.

It’s my preference that each blog elicit an emotional response: surprise, delight, confusion, concern, attitude, and maybe even a little bit of anger here and there. If you don’t smile at least once during these 3 to 5 minutes, that’s a failure on my part.

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Certain blog topics get plenty of attention. Roads, traffic, growth, and some of the inner workings of politics tend to attract eyeballs and comments.

Other blog topics, not so much.

Like the Citrus County School Board. I attended the meeting Tuesday. Two hours of normal routine business. Reports about academic achievements. Some budget talk. Accolades for a longtime coach inducted into the Florida Athletics Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

I sat in the back of the room, half listening to these pleasantries, half looking at my phone in search of some real news.

I attended Tuesday's School Board meeting because the County Commission has just one meeting this month and it’s next week. The two boards normally meet the same day.

The School Board and County Commission are siblings who are total opposites, like Donny and Marie — one’s a little bit country, the other’s a little bit rock ‘n’ roll.

Commissioners deal with real earth stuff, things I can see and feel, like roads and zoning. Oftentimes, their decisions have an actual impact on someone’s life. Commissioners don’t vote on theory. It’s somewhat black and white.

School Board, much different. For one, there’s a filter between the School Board and public that the County Commission doesn’t have. The School Board’s constituency is much different. It’s not the local Republican Club. It’s teachers, administrators, custodians, bus drivers, kids, parents, coaches — and then the local Republican Club.

Plus, the political dynamics vary.

The five-member County Commission hires its administrator and is responsible for that person’s success. In the school district the superintendent is elected, so theoretically the School Board and its administrator could have separate goals. (Not the case here.)

I raise all this government mumbo jumbo to remind readers we have two significant school races this year, and it’s never too early to start paying attention to that.

Both the superintendent and School Board District 2 will have open seats for the first time in two decades. Candidates will soon be showing up at your civic association group if they haven’t already. They’ll have lots of opinions on how to improve the school system though, if we’re honest, most of that stuff will go over the heads of many who are not in tune with the schools.

Rather than letting candidates ramble on about their opinion on this or that, I’m looking for these four things from candidates. In order:

— Background. Who are you? What do you do for a living? How long have you done that? Married? Kids? Involved in any community activities? Generally, during your time in Citrus County, whether it be a day or a decade, what have you done to make our community a better place to live?

(I asked this, “what have you done for us?” question of a candidate once during my old radio show, “Live Mic.” His answer: “I’m running for office.” I told him that doesn’t count.)

— What do you know about our schools? What’s the difference between Rock Crusher Elementary and Inverness Primary? Are you involved in any school as a parent or community member? Have you participated in any of the numerous read-in programs? Or volunteered in another capacity? Have you personally had any poor experiences with a Citrus County school? Are you on a first-name basis with any Citrus County teacher?

— What do you know about how the school district operates? The government of schools — you know how that works? Do you attend board meetings regularly (in person, not online)? If someone on the campaign trails asks a question about, say, the bus schedule, are you familiar enough with the district’s website to give an answer? You understand how the millage works in relation to state funding?

Only after all that do I ask for opinions. In any job opening, do we interview before looking at the resume? Of course not. A candidate’s opinion means very little unless I know he/she has the background to support it.

The School Board may not be the most exciting spot on the ballot, but we can’t overstate its importance. Doesn’t make for humdinger blogs. So it goes.

Have an awesome Valentine’s Day, sweethearts.

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