Guest opinion: Schools need our help – Linda Reksten Comes Home to Lead Butte Schools

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world." Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead might well have had Butte school board members in mind when she uttered that admonition.

Often faced with difficult decisions, meeting for long hours, listening to endless complaints, all without pay, theirs can be a thankless job. But this week our school board demonstrated their commitment. They met the challenge of finding a new superintendent and took a step toward change.

The process was not an easy one. When recruitment efforts failed to produce enough suitable candidates, the board wisely opted to lengthen the search. Ultimately four experienced, capable candidates, including one of Butte’s own, emerged. The selection process included an open house where the public could meet informally with the candidate as well as access to the board’s interviews with each individual.

After extended deliberations, the board chose Linda Reksten, Montana born and bred, but laboring away in the trenches in Burbank, Calif., while she longed to return to her home state. Reksten brings a wealth of experience from an area with one of the highest poverty levels in greater Los Angeles. She has served as teacher, principal and assistant superintendent. Miraculously she has managed to retain a positive attitude and a sense of humor throughout.

In her response to the board about the role of the superintendent, Reksten made a statement that strikes at the heart of what public education means: "Every child counts" — the clever ones, the well-behaved ones, the athletes, the truant ones, the troubled ones, every single one.

By Marian Jensen

Full Story: http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2009/03/28/opinion/hjjajghdhghiei.txt