January is School Board Appreciation Month. We want to recognize those members of the School Board who go out of their way to contribute and make the school functional.
Today, we recognize Mr. Dillon Cook. He’s been on the School Board a little more than a year. Mr. Cook is a Hope graduate. Though he was away for a period of time, he moved back in 2018.
Mr. Cook tells us that the School Board is in charge of many areas. Policies, budgets, and hiring decisions fall within their authority. They only make a decision when they have enough information. Mr. Cook’s priority is that kids here “receive a high-quality education.” It’s also important that faculty feels appreciated, and that decisions make financial sense. Renovations and improvements are necessary. Before approving something, the School Board works with the Superintendent.
One recent area of discussion concerns phones and intercoms. The School Board is looking into whether these can be implemented. Mr. Cook gave us an example of a recent major decision. It was important to do what made financial sense. In general, he feels that the School Board should reflect the opinion of the community. Going forward, Mr. Cook’s opinion is that we need to consider a ‘Capital Outlay Plan’ in order to remain financially healthy.
(Prepared with Mr. Killmon's help)