Stafford wants to expand school board

At the last Wilson County Commission Budget Committee meeting, Commissioner Annette Stafford broached the issue of increasing the number of members on the county school board.

Stafford's comments at the budget committee meeting were just to make her fellow committee members aware she felt the situation needed to be discussed to make sure all areas of the county are adequately represented on the board.

"I've had several calls from concerned parents in the county who think it's a good idea," she said. "Surrounding counties have a lot more school board members."

At the last Wilson County Commission Budget Committee meeting, Commissioner Annette Stafford broached the issue of increasing the number of members on the county school board.
Stafford's comments at the budget committee meeting were just to make her fellow committee members aware she felt the situation needed to be discussed to make sure all areas of the county are adequately represented on the board.
"I've had several calls from concerned parents in the county who think it's a good idea," she said. "Surrounding counties have a lot more school board members."
That includes counties smaller in land area and in population. Stafford also said in Wilson County, which is growing every day, there are 25 county commissioners all of whom represent about 4,500 citizens. When considered in the light of five county school board members, it's the equivalent of every school board member representing 25,000 citizens.
She cites statistics to illustrate the differences between counties.
Wilson County has a population of 116,000 and has five members on the county school board, while nearby Trousdale County has a population of 7,800 and also has five members on its board of education. Sumner County has 163,000 people and 11 members. Some rural counties with relatively small populations have more school board members as well. Tiny DeKalb County's population is listed at 19,000, but has seven members. Grundy County has nine school board members to serve a population of 13,703.
With the possible exception of Rutherford County, which boasts a considerably higher population - 269,000 residents and seven school board members - the trend is most counties even approaching the population of Wilson County, and many with far fewer residents, have larger school boards.
"I know that they all listen and work hard," Stafford said. "But I had a constituent ask me, 'How can they each represent so many people?' I don't have all the answers, but I can start to ask questions."
She hopes the commission will give the issue a thorough airing at upcoming budget committee and commission work sessions, where everyone - in and out of government - can voice their opinions and ask questions about whether the county can benefit from expanding the size of the school board.
She said if there is any consensus about expanding the board she would like to see the commission petition the state for a private act to make it so. Any decisions about whether or how to expand the board will be made by the full commission and ultimately decided by the state legislature. Stafford thinks the county education districts should be redrawn so every board member, regardless of how many are ultimately decided upon, has roughly the same number of people in his or her district.
Stafford, who has served on the commission for more than 16 years, said exploring the notion of a larger board is one of the things she wants to accomplish before she leaves office. She is proud to have been one of the people on the commission and the school board who led the charge to make the new Lebanon High School a reality. She hopes to make a larger school board and better representation for the entire county on that board.
"I want to see us get past this '109 divide,'" she said in an apparent reference to the rivalry, real or perceived, between residents on the west and east ends of Wilson County. "I want everyone to feel they are represented adequately on the county school board."