Every so often, we need a reminder that we are responsible for the decisions our elected officials make. In return, every so often, our elected officials need to be reminded of their duties to those who elected them.

Not only do we depend on these individuals at the city and county level, we have elected officials who represent our interests on the school board. Sometimes, this board slips through the cracks.

While we’re busy watching the city and county, the school board is making decisions, hiring and firing, and conducting business without any public scrutiny.

We’ve said before — and you’ll probably hear it again — but the newspaper is the public watchdog. We’re watching to make sure city and county business is conducted in public, in an honest and open manner. We have the same responsibility to patrons of the school district.

Granted, the public has the right and the responsibility to attend all city, county, and school board meetings. We as a public should be more diligent in attending meetings, being aware of the actions taken by councils and boards, and asking questions when things don’t make sense.

As a newspaper, we have a responsibility to fulfill the public watchdog role.

The public wants to know that the school board is conducting business in open meetings. Are we getting full disclosure for the actions of the board? Are friends and family filling too many school job openings?

In other words, is the school board doing its job? Is the public doing its job? And, is the newspaper doing its job?

Perhaps the newspaper has been lax in its coverage of school board meetings. Maybe we just assume the board will do the right thing and the schools will continue to operate as they always have.

But, just in case, the newspaper plans to step up and do a better job as a public watchdog. We hope the public will take up the challenge and become better citizens by attending a few meetings and asking questions. Then, maybe the school board won’t become a rubber-stamp entity and recognize its place as a representative of its patrons.

Any comment? What do patrons think?