By Chary Majerus
    Team spirit can be a great motivator.
    But it can also be a great divider, especially when team members are forced to set aside long-established rivalries in order to join forces.
    The Brady Bulldogs and Dutton Cardinals began working together in 2001 when their sports programs started cooping. This helped establish a smooth transition when the two schools consolidated in 2005.
    Since then, students have accepted their new identity as the Dutton-Brady DiamondBacks. However, many adults in both communities have found the adjustment difficult.
    For example, when the District 28C administrators (Jim Mepham and Tim Tharp) were due for evaluations during the January board meeting, Tharp requested that his evaluation be done publicly. The resulting lengthy discussion between trustees, Tharp and the audience created additional friction among community members already wary of what appears to be partisan politics.
    Board members did re-hire Mepham unanimously to serve as K-8 principal and K-12 curriculum director. Tharp was re-hired as superintendent, high school principal and athletic director, but his approval was not unanimous. The vote was three to two, with both Brady trustees voting no.
    According to Trustee Kurt Dyer of Brady, the board has very few split votes. “I feel that some people think we should have agreed five to zero on that issue,” said Dyer at the February board meeting.
    “Just because board members don’t agree on everything doesn’t mean it’s a bad board,” stated Vicky Hemry of Brady.
    Yet, Board Chairman Reid Michel of Dutton believes the dysfunction and underlying philosophical differences will trickle down, eventually affecting students. “It has nothing to do with the three-to-two votes,” he said. “Some of the members of the board don’t remember they are to represent the entire district.”
    Unequal representation seems to be the biggest challenge facing the consolidated board. A proposal to change the way school board members are elected is currently being evaluated as a possible solution.
    Right now the board is made up of two representatives from the Brady precinct, two representatives from the Dutton precinct, and one at-large member. If passed, the proposed change will allow all five board members to be elected at-large.
    As Dutton resident Lora Bryant explained, “Currently we see a split board. By changing, you are not a Brady member or a Dutton member, you are a 28C member.”
    Nearly 40 people, in addition to the five board members, attended the February board meeting. Though the agenda included potentially explosive issues, the emotionally-charged meeting was conducted in an orderly and professional manner with respect for all in attendance.
    Attendees even pointed out that by opening up the meeting to public comment, board members showed they are willing to work together.    
    “This excites the heck out of me – the number of people here interested in school,” said Trustee Eric Doheny of Dutton. “And it’s not sports related!”
    Pointing out that there are going to be some tough decisions in the next five years, Doheny encouraged concerned citizens to consider running for board positions (which are unpaid). Doheny and Dyer are both up for re-election on May 8.
    Audience members expressed concern about Dyer running unopposed again.
    Gloria Hicks, former clerk of the former Brady school district, commented in a phone interview, “Regardless of whether or not anyone ran against him, he was a good trustee. He’s very knowledgeable about school law and finance.”
    “Most of the time people run unopposed because it is difficult to get people to run,” said Mepham in a separate interview. And generally, trustees run unopposed when the community is satisfied with them.
    In spite of that, participants of the February meeting voiced a desire for change.
    “When an elected official is not doing what they should be doing, we should have a choice in dealing with that,” said former Dutton school board member Shari Suek.