You can blame Florida legislators for ducking their responsibility to make budget cuts or you can call it the beginning of real reform for school boards. Either way you look at it, Florida’s paid board members will have an opportunity to personally share the burden of budget cuts.

That’s because in their recent special session, legislators gave board members the option of cutting their state-mandated salaries.

Florida’s elected school board members are among a mere 1.8 percent of board members nationwide who draw salaries of $10,000 or more, according to a 2002 survey (the most recent) of the National School Boards Association. The association also found that only one-third of the respondents said they were paid at all.

“In general, about three-fourths of board members earn little or nothing for their service,” the NSBA reported.

Florida, though, is the land of opportunity for board members. With salaries statewide ranging from $23,116 to $40,932, board members also pick up health insurance, retirement and other benefits. For some, their service is a lucrative part-time job; for others, the job — with benefits — is a solid, full-time endeavor.

Problem is, there’s no reason for school board members to spend 40 hours a week (or more) in schools. That’s what superintendents, administrators, principals and teachers are for. Board members shouldn’t be micromanaging professionals; they should be setting policy and planning strategically with their professional leadership. They should make sure that the hired hands are responsive to the public and otherwise accountable.

Unfortunately, Florida’s cadre of elected officials — from city councils to county commissions — is laden with people in “public service” for the money, benefits and perks. After all, why serve on the board of a nonprofit for free when you can get free Internet access, secretarial service, health insurance and retirement serving on a government board?

This is not to say that all elected officials are in it for the money; some are quite generous with the funds they receive. Others are effective leaders who know their roles and put in a lot of time without telling staff members what to do.

Proponents of higher pay for school board members say they deserve it, given all the hard work they put in. They say quality people would not run if perks were cut. Unfortunately, the facts — based on limited pay in almost 75 percent of school districts nationwide — aren’t on their side.

In many Florida counties, school board members are paid about the same as starting teachers. The challenge this year is money, and many districts might have to cut teaching positions. Others are looking at other expense cuts they say will adversely impact students.

The collective $100,000 to $200,000 individual school boards can pay their members is a mere pencil point in a district’s pencil bag of expenses. The money, though, also equates to up to five teachers or small raises for employees.

If board members are serious about directing as many dollars into classrooms as possible, they will look to their own boardrooms, and their own pockets, for savings — this year and into the future.

The public, but most importantly children, will be better served.

SALARIES

Martin County: $37,000 plus benefits

St. Lucie County: $35,356 plus benefits

Indian River County: $35,500 plus benefits

SCHOOL BOARD

Martin County:

$32,190 plus benefits

St. Lucie County: $35,335 plus benefits

Indian River County: $32,054 plus benefits

Personal disclaimer: When I was a little girl, my mom served on the school board of our school district. It was a strictly volunteer position; however, my mom is college educated and highly intelligent. Her decisions were always in the best interests of the students.