Should we be paying our school board members?

The question arises in light of the small number of candidates filing for Lawrence’s spring school board election. Three seats are up for election; four candidates have filed.

It’s not a comment on the quality of the candidates who did file, but it’s disappointing that more people don’t want to serve. Disappointing, but understandable. Serving on a school board is a thankless job, especially now, when the primary function of most boards is to cut services and staff to try to balance their district budgets.

Kansas statute prohibits pay for local school board members. Although it’s true that whatever pay a school district could offer its board probably wouldn’t be a huge incentive, maybe some sort of payment would make board members feel more respected and valued.

The intent of the law probably is to make sure that only well-intentioned volunteers will seek the posts. The same standard, however, would also seem to apply to other positions, such as city and county commissioners, who are paid in many places, including Lawrence and Douglas County. In fact, an official of the Kansas Association of School Boards noted Tuesday that school board members appeared to be the only elected officials in the state specifically barred from receiving a salary.

Is that a reflection of the value Kansans place on the important job of setting local school policies? If so, maybe we need to re-examine our priorities.