Decorah School Board member Melanie Tietz reflects on 12 years of service

Melanie Tietz wrapped up 12 years of being on the Decorah Community School Board this Monday night. She was initially appointed to a board vacancy in 2003, and during her tenure served for three years as Vice President and two years as President. Tietz shared some thoughts with decorahnews.com regarding her years of service.

Tietz said perhaps the most rewarding part of her role was serving with a wide variety of people on the board who all had been wholeheartedly committed to the best interest of students. She said that it was very gratifying - "fun, fascinating and interesting" - to have been "behind the scenes," working on policies and practices that positively affected her own children. In particular she cited the "Lighthouse Philosophy," a program the board has participated in that challenges school boards to "focus on learning," and not be a group that is consumed by managing "buses and buns." She noted the research that high performing boards improve student achievement.

Clearly the most difficult and challenging time was during the East Side School debate. But ultimately she felt that the issue reached a successful conclusion, not necessarily because everyone agreed, but because the voting around the issues and options made the decisions community decisions. She hopes that has contributed to healing in the community over a divisive issue.

Tietz sees the future as one with significant challenges of funding, and needing to do more with less. She is concerned about adequate funding for public education, and perhaps the erosion of that funding in deference to private school ventures.