WHEREAS,  it is the mission of Maine's school administrative units to provide all students with the best possible education in order that they may be prepared for productive and rewarding lives; and

WHEREAS,  school boards are accountable for the education of Maine's children; and

WHEREAS,  school boards articulate a vision for their school systems, set high academic standards and approve the hiring of the staff who make that vision a reality; and

WHEREAS,  school boards chart the educational goals and direction of their communities as they work with administrators, teachers, parents and local residents while serving as advocates for public education; and

WHEREAS,  school boards set the policies and procedures that govern all aspects of schools' operations and adopt the budgets that provide the resources necessary to meet the needs of all students; and

WHEREAS,  all of these responsibilities and more are met by volunteer school board members, who put in countless hours in meetings and in their communities advocating for their schools, representing the interests of children and parents and other members of their communities and preserving the valued tradition of local control over kindergarten to grade 12 public education; now, therefore, be it