DSB Proceeds with Track Renaming, Discusses Community Service Motion – Dresden School Board Update (08/31/2018)

The Dresden School Board recently met for it’s August meeting. The agenda was (as usual) full of many important matters. The first matter presented to the board was the track naming proposal. Friends and family of the late coach Brown were present at the meeting as well as the hard-working alumni behind the proposal. Karina Lukovitz has been especially tireless in the effort to rename the track. The board felt the plaque for the late Coach Brown to be tasteful and a fitting tribute to the beloved coach. There were some logistical concerns from the board but all indications are that the track renaming will occur as scheduled. The plaque will be affixed to a convenient location that will be easily viewable for everyone and would be easy to move should a future remodel of the track occur. A large rock was proposed but exact locations have not yet been decided on.

The main item on the agenda Thursday was the community service motion. Former council leadership and Hanover High graduates Jasper Meyer and Cathy Han attended the meeting to help me and Mrs. Adante explain the community service motion and the process by which council passed it. After a brief explanation of the process by which the motion was passed, Board members offered their thoughts on the motion. One board member wondered if our definition of an acceptable nonprofit organization was too broad. It is possible that some 5013(c)’s might represent causes that some consider odious or not service oriented. Jasper Meyer replied that Council or the school board deciding which organizations are acceptable could be dubious. He further added that in his fairly extensive experience it was best to keep definitions broad. He noted that most local organizations do admirable work.  

One board member wondered why only unpaid work meets the threshold of community service. He contended that some local organizations who pay volunteers provide equally valuable services to the community. We argued that the principle of community service precludes material compensation. Finally, a revered member of the board argued that community service should not be compelled by “coercion” and likened mandated community service to religious requirements and physical education requirements. It was then pointed out that state education requirements could be seen as coercive but that most of society abides by them because we value education and that our preference for education overrides our desire to avoid coercion. Lastly, someone suggested that service in council or athletic leadership might be eligible for consideration as community service. This is still an open question though some believe that this service while enormously valuable to our school community might not meet the standard of value to the external community at large. The deliberations and discussions surrounding the community service motion will continue at the September meeting as the board works through the particulars of this very important motion.