Working to improve our schools is a tough and relentless challenge. Nothing illustrates this better than the past few weeks; circumstances evolved to a boiling point that could have enticed a collective fall into an abyss that would have taken years from which to recover.

That did not happen. PSE leadership and members took stock and succeeded in their goals without succumbing to strong and legitimate emotion. Dr. Schulte displayed inspired leadership and personal commitment and would not allow for failure as an option. I would like to personally thank all the negotiating team members on both sides for stepping up and choosing the high road.

But that was the easy part. The challenges before us now require a sense of vision and unity that I might have doubted possible a month ago, but not anymore. Difficult budget cuts will need to be made, and we must grasp the moment and begin the process of truly working as a team. And that means all of us. Cynicism is the path of least resistance that guarantees the self-fulfilling prophecy of failure. None of us can afford cynicism.

From every great challenge springs opportunity. The months and years to follow will judge us all on our ability to live up to the task. We owe it to our children and our community to accept nothing less than success.

Peter Hunt

Oak Harbor School Board