By Dena Mayer, CPA, CFO, MSBO Immediate Past President, Director of Finance and Human Resources, Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD
This is my last “official” column as a member of MSBO’s Board of Directors and I can’t believe my term will be over this month. In retrospect, one thing I can say unequivocally is that It was not a “typical” board experience.
The year I became board president was challenging, motivating, and exciting. The COVID pandemic upended everything. We had the first virtual conference in the history of MSBO. President Bill Chatfield passed the gavel to me “virtually.” Of course, none of us knew what the future held and what would become the “new normal” in our school districts and for MSBO.
The MSBO virtual conference was one year after the MSBO Annual Conference was cancelled. More than 60 years ago another world event changed MSBO’s conference tradition. The exhibit show was suspended during World War II in 1943 and 1944. I think the pandemic of 2020 taught us to embrace the present and be thankful for each day because in the blink of an eye, our world, as we know it, can change.
As the 84th board president of MSBO, I became the 3rd president from the UP. One of the greatest challenges the Eastern UP ISD (EUP) faces is that it is the largest geographic district in Michigan, covering approximately 4,000 square miles. We have 14 local districts and 5 public school academies. We have 3 schools on islands – including a one-room schoolhouse. And the needs of our local districts are as diverse as the communities they serve. The region has a long history of collaborating and working together – we have to, it is the only way for districts to survive and provide top quality education for our kids. MSBO is not so different from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. MSBO membership includes rural and urban districts. Our members work in all function areas of school management.
I worked to bring that collaborating spirit to MSBO as Board president and continuing the MSBO tradition of collaboration. I leave the MSBO Board with gratitude for having this wonderful professional experience and the opportunity to serve this great organization. I leave with a sense of pride of being associated with people who are dedicated to educating Michigan’s children and working collaboratively.
I encourage anyone who wants to serve as a Board member of this amazing organization – take the leap. Get out of your comfort zone and go for it! I promise you that you will get more out of your service than the energy and time you put into it. You will meet many new people, make new friendships, and connections with fellow MSBO members working in the trenches with you as well as connections at the state level.
As I look back, I will be forever grateful and honored to have had this experience and the forever friendships I have made. As always, I thank my family for their support and unconditional love through my years of service on the board. I am also thankful for working with an exceptional EUP team and all their support over the years, they truly are amazing! Finally, the MSBO Board of Directors and Staff – I will miss seeing and collaborating with you all on a regular basis; but know that the work we have done over the past several years will continue and keep MSBO as a first-class organization!
Other Articles in this Newsletter
- BMA = Working Knowledge of School Finance
- Developing and Explaining Your School District’s Budget
- Financial Statement Preparation Workshop
- MSBO 84th Annual Conference: Something for Everyone
- MSBO Business Manager/CPA Workshop
- MSBO Update – David Martell
- The Conference is Coming! The Conference is Coming! – Julie Omer
- Welcome New Members