Let us put aside, for a moment, the gravity of the charges levied against our school board chairperson; let us also put aside the fact that the election commission ruled against her, and did so unanimously.

Forget, also, for the time being, the definitive, no-nonsense language of the school board’s very own policy regarding the matter.

Let us consider only, then, the image that will likely be burned into the memories of everyone who was in attendance at last week’s hearing, and everyone who viewed the highlights on the nightly news – the image of a defiant school board chair marching out of council chambers with a wry grin etched onto her face, her right fist lifted toward the commission in a gesture that, while not exactly obscene, certainly delivered the message.

All this in spite of the appeals of the commission chairman, who reminded her she was under subpoena and subject to arrest.

Regardless of the decision reached by the election commission and what the final outcome may be, perhaps the biggest tragedy of the day was the decision by the commission chair not to issue an arrest warrant. For if such arrogance in the face of the law, such utter disregard for our institutions, goes unchallenged, what is to prevent it from happening again and again?

Our elected officials, fairly or not, are held to a higher standard. They are to be an example to the community.

The school board and its chairperson, likewise, should be an example to the children in our education system.

Unfortunately, the example that was witnessed last Wednesday afternoon was a sad one indeed. And this should be reason enough for our school board to demand the resignation of the board chair or begin the process of her removal.