I have been making two lists in my head.  This is not totally out of the ordinary for me.  I make lists all the time.  These lists, though, were brought on by a visit from a neighbor about ten days ago.

I was writing, totally absorbed in my work, this particular day.  I did not hear a car pull into the driveway and did not realize anyone was around until the loud knock on my inside door.  You see, my laundry room is huge and the back door opens into it but there is a door into the house/kitchen as the laundry room was an addition to the house.  Most seasons but summer, I keep this door closed so cannot hear anyone at the back door.  This particular neighbor knows this and came right and knocked on the inside door.  Scared the crap right out of me as I seldom have guests that I am not aware are coming.

Anyway, the neighbor happens to also be a local school board member and that was ultimately the reason for his visit.  He wanted to encourage me to consider a run for Board of Education this year.  This is not totally out of the blue.  I ran back in 2003 and lost.  My oldest’s first vote ever was in an election I was running in, a fact I have always thought cool though it did not seem to impress him.  I applied to fill a position that was vacated due to the death of a long time member.  I withdrew from this process after finding out how I would have to run again that next May and again the following May – hard to explain it but I did understand.

So out came the lists.  I have always said I am biding time in this area.  Don’t get me wrong!  I love it here and have loved raising my children here.  It is not where I want to spend the rest of my life.  Where that may be, I am not totally sure but I have always known I was going to be here until the last child graduates from high school – with luck and a bit of work on his part, two years from now.  I want to be able to travel.  I want to live closer to either a lake or a mountain or both.  I want a lot of things that I have put on hold, and willingly will continue to put on hold.

That said, the lists are looking a bit lop-sided.  The pros are service.  That is short and sweet.  I have always encouraged my children, through actions and words, to give back to our community, to our church, to others.  This is an opportunity to do so.  Unfortunately, this is the only pro that I can think of at the moment.  I know there are more, but I am drawing blanks.

On the con side are multiple items.  No pay – it wouldn’t be service if there were pay, would it?  Grief – NYS and most all of its school districts are in, or heading imminently for, fiscal hardships.  Tough decisions are going to have to be made in the next three to five years, most of these coming sooner rather than later.  Education as my community knows it is going to have to change in some manner or manners for it to fiscally survive.  Term – school board terms are three years.  What did I say above about my youngest graduating?  I would be committing to three years here in this community.  That is not a horrible thought.  Most likely, that is a good thing.  Time – I just joined a softball team.  I have goals in my running.  School boards are not a twice a month meeting commitment.  There is knowing what is going on in each building in the district.  There are committees and committee meetings.

I have the petition form.  It sits in my kitchen with no writing on it.  I have my reasons for holding off on getting signatures.  I have my own thoughts on what is the right thing to do.  I am just torn.  I need to decide and soon as petitions are due back by 5 pm April 16th.