Recently a former school board member passed away who was a legend in her community. It got me to thinking about contributions of school board members through the years not just currently. In many ways our current successes have been built on the efforts of those in the past. January is also School Board Recognition month and I thought it might be nice to share positive stories about past board members.
I have worked closely and gotten to know thousands school board members throughout the 21 counties of New Jersey for close to 27 years. These relationships have been overwhelmingly positive ones. I have known board members committed to their communities and students in small one building districts as well as large expansive districts. They have represented New Jersey’s racial and ethnic diversity. Some excellent board members have been Republican, and some have been Democratic. Many have no real political affiliation. Most I have no idea because it was not germane to the relationship.
Yet I am not writing this article from a professional perspective but from a personal one. I would like to tell the story of three board members who I knew in the early days of my career but who, because of their strong sense of morality really touched and influenced me. I can say with complete confidence that they not only touched me positively but others who knew them. Unfortunately, all three have since passed but their contributions have outlived them. They all also taught me a few lessons and made me a better person for having known them. I am not stating that these are the “best” board members I have ever known but that their stories do reflect some of the best qualities of a school board member.
As a final thought I do not want to give an impression that these dedicated board members of the past are of an era that no longer exists. Not at all. If anything, the opposite. That there are and will always be committed school board members. If you are reading this my guess is that you may already know some.
Art Griffa
Sometimes in life you come across a person who has the ability to make others see things from a different perspective. Art Griffa was one of them. He was a board member in the City of Orange. He was a tall African American gentleman with a nicely trimmed gray beard who always dressed professionally. He was mild mannered, but he also laughed easily. He was passionate about not just educating his community’s students but all students, particularly those that seem to have the odds stacked against them.
Most locally elected officials, whether they are a school board member, town council member or a mayor are passionate about their community and advocate for it. They know their needs intimately. New Jersey, however, has a great diversity of school districts and municipalities. They each have different challenges and needs. The needs of a rural district in Salem or Sussex Counties will be different than an urban district in Essex or Hudson Counties.
Not surprisingly when local board members advocated to their state representatives it was to get more state aid for their district. While they are sympathetic to other districts their focus is on their own district. This sometimes caused a rift among school districts as they all are fighting for their slice of a small pie.
Art, however, was a uniter during a divisive time. (Maybe a trait we could use even more now.) Yes, his district was receiving a good amount of state aid, but he could eloquently explain to his board colleagues from across the state at various meetings of NJSBA the special needs of his district. He would explain that sometimes the battle they had with the street gangs for the hearts and mind of students. He would also explain many of the gains his district had made because of the aid. While Art was passionate about his kids his passion was for all students. When many heard Art and talked to him I saw them begin to understand the issue from beyond their own district.
He even impressed a lesson on me one time. We were discussing a meeting location for an Essex County meeting and there was some concern that this meeting was being held in a city at night. That some people don’t like driving to certain places at night. Art listened and looked at me “Ray I know that is true but let me tell all of you something. As a black man I get pulled over all the time in certain towns. I just want you to know that all locations have issues.” Now we were all taken back. I know I was, because while we were aware of young black men getting pulled over, picturing anyone thinking that trouble lurked with Art did not make sense. He was a teetotaler and church going man. A complete gentleman. In one sentence he had brought this issue home to all of us.
That was Art bringing up issues that are difficult but need to be discussed. Yet bringing it up in a nonconfrontational manner. He was liked and respected by all who met him. He brought his unique background and experience to the discussion. I saw him change people’s perspectives.
The reason Art could do all this was because he was a great listener. He talked to people from other districts that were different than his to learn what their issues were. This helped him understand the big picture of education.
I should add there was another reason he was so successful at bringing people together. He was just a plain nice guy with a great sense of humor. He was one of those people you could not help but like. He had no agenda except doing what he thought was right for students. He did not have his own political or personal agenda.
When he left the board, his leadership was sorely missed at the local, county, and state level. I know I missed his leadership and wisdom. I know when I heard of his passing a few weeks after it occurred, I felt great sadness. Yet looking back now I was so glad I got to work with him. I am a better man because of it.