Across the top of the name tag of every school district superintendent and board member read the words, "We make a difference."

For many who gathered Monday evening at the Kings County School Boards Association annual president's dinner at the Armona Community Center, at least one person present already had made an incomparable difference.

The big ticket item on the dinner program was a speech by the new president of the California School Boards Association. But the recipient of the "Make A Difference" award -- which is handed out each year at the dinner -- also received a standing ovation.

Marion Wilson, educator in the Island Union School District for 31 years and trustee in the Lemoore Union High School District for 21 years, made a difference in the lives of many locals, including William Gundacker and Kings County Supervisor Tony Oliveira.

"No one was left behind that he knew or that he could touch," Oliveira said in presenting Wilson with the award, referencing Wilson's accomplishments years before any mention of No Child Left Behind laws.

Oliveira credited Wilson as the one person who had kept him from dropping out of school several years ago.

Wilson said that the bulk of his career had not been work for him, but pleasure.

"Those rewards don't come in paychecks," Wilson said of the greatest earnings of an educator.

Wilson is a symbol of what educators can accomplish, Oliveira said. But those accomplishments won't arrive without obstacles.

Paul Chatman, the equivalent of a keynote speaker at Monday's dinner and the new president of CSBA, recognized one example: proposed budget cuts.

Chatman noted prior to his speech that he had toured county schools Monday and witnessed classrooms full of students engaging in learning activities.

"That speaks highly to the efforts that are put forward by local teachers," Chatman said. "But what could it be?" Chatman said, begging the question of results that could be produced with more funding for schools.

"By not investing in education, we are not making the correct investments," Chatman said, referencing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's recently proposed 10 percent budget cut to education and several other state services. He added that today's students are the future, but "too many" people in government are looking at short-term solutions to budget shortfalls.

Chatman said he would pledge his term to the issue and asked that he have the support of Kings County's school officials. Chatman also said he would focus on doing what he can to make sure that no child is left behind, adding that to educate any child as if they had more potential than another is unacceptable.

"We have to make a difference," Chatman said just before the dinner began. "We need to understand that every child is a future leader and each one deserves a same quality education."

When Chatman gave his speech, he reiterated that point, and compared running education to running a business -- at which he is a former expert.

"You couldn't run a business without raising prices," Chatman said, implying that funding for schools also needs to adjust with the increased cost of living. Without it, "years down the road will be years of children who didn't have the benefit of a full quality education."

Oliveira said he shared Chatman's concerns.

"But there is hope," Oliveira said. "The hope is sitting in this room tonight."

Among those in attendance at the dinner were members of several of the county's school boards and school district administrators.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.

(Jan. 29, 2008)