Area school districts have petitions for those who want to run for one of the most thankless but rewarding jobs in any community: school board member. For those who have been considering, this is the time to think not only about the time commitments required, but also defining the vision that you want to share with the electorate.

In one of those odd twists, school board members, who often meet for full board and committee meetings more than any other locally elected boards, are not paid for their work. Yet, what they do may be the most important of any public official - they are the unsung heroes of public service. Rarely is everyone happy with what local school boards do. Quite often there are those who are out there who can find (and often do) something that they can berate the board and its individual members on. Currently in Auburn, for example, it is a mix of changing residency lines for those who are going to elementary schools, low test scores in several schools and issues related to a proposed $15 million plus renovation program.

And there are the whiners out there who simply would rather carp (usually anonymously on newspaper message boards) than put themselves into the electoral fray or make a committed effort to run for office to oversee education policy. For some it is that they don't think they can make a difference; for others it is just a way to vent.

Even with a myriad of mandates from Albany and Washington, local school leaders can have an impact in how districts are run - maybe not on the specifics taught, but the tone of what is. One can almost hear the audible sighs of school board members when they hear of new unfunded mandates or limited funds sent down from on high with strings attached. But even with such controls, local school boards have the power to hire and fire their district's leadership and set a general tone of how education is viewed.

In Auburn, both board president David Lansford and vice president Charles Cator have said that they will seek third and second terms, respectively. William Andre, who is just finishing his third term, has decided not to seek re-election. With that in mind, there is at least one seat open, with at least two local parents giving runs serious thought.

This Saturday, for those who want to make a difference, or at least see how they may be able to, there is a free session from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Auburn High School library on what is required to run for the school board and serve. This is open to anyone in any local district. If you want to make a difference in our community - this is a chance to find out how. For more information you can call Auburn board member Ginny Kent at 282-7684.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com