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Public participation
ACTIVITIES in neighboring counties—on both sides of Rappahannock—have inspired some thoughts about how the public’s business should be conducted.
In Madison, the entire membership of the School Board resigned, and one reported reason was their objection to a proposed change in the method of selecting School Board members. According to printed reports, they did not like the idea of elected Supervisors selecting School Board members.
In Fauquier, the planning commission is currently undertaking a revision of that county’s master plan. In the process, the commissioners have invited participation by the public, setting up a series of preliminary and secondary meetings to go over possible plan changes, with ample opportunity given for hearing from individuals.
NOW, AS TO the Madison situation. Why shouldn’t School Board members be close to the public? Why, indeed, shouldn’t they be elected, instead of appointed? After all, they are responsible for spending the greatest number of taxpayers’ dollars.
Virginia, it has been said, is the only state remaining in the Union which does not allow direct election of school boards, even as a local option. To our mind, this is deplorable.
And as to arguments that school affairs should be “kept out of politics,” we would reply that it is far better to keep the politicking out in the open instead of pretending - it doesn’t exist.
BUT WE’LL ADMIT that the argument about promoting morel public participation in public affairs suffers when the situation with Fauquier’s master plan is examined. Despite the planning commissioners commendable concern for public “input,” not many members of the public are taking them up on the offer. At the latest session, there were more public officials present than there were citizens.
This is deplorable, but we still maintain that the correct conclusion is not to call off these public meetings because not many people are showing up. The correct response is to continue to do everything possible to inspire more interest on the part of voters and taxpayers in the affairs of their government.
It is the “father knows best” attitude of far too many officials in Virginia—including some insulated School Board members—that “turns off” many citizens, we suspect. If they really believe that they can have a meaningful participation in public decisions, then a lot of so-called public apathy would disappear.□
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