A new start: New members, compromise steps forward for boards

It seems like a turning point, this news about the Wayne County Board of Education and the Wayne County Board of Commissioners.

Two new faces.

A compromise on a much-needed school building plan.

Sounds like there is hope on the horizon.

But just so we are clear as this new chapter proceeds, here are a couple suggestions for both boards on how to continue to accomplish much for the county.

Set aside the past. This is a fresh start with new ideas and new personnel.

Begin a new dialogue. And by dialogue, we mean actually listening to each other and respecting what each board has to contribute.

And, last but not least, do business with an open door and an eye to including the community as often as possible. There will be times when secrecy is a must, but the more open you are, the more support there will be for what you want to accomplish.

There is great potential in this community -- some of it already realized. But it takes more than just a couple boards to make a difference. By leading the community and enlisting the expertise that is here, Wayne County could see more than just small leaps of progress.

We are looking forward to seeing if this group of leaders has that goal in mind.

Published in Editorials on May 6, 2014 10:44 AM