Civility in public service means fostering respect, constructive dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving, especially when disagreements arise. While differences of opinion are necessary in governance and politics, how we express them is crucial to our democracy and humanity. Civility involves treating others with courtesy, valuing divergent viewpoints, listening attentively, focusing on issues rather than personalities, and demonstrating respectful behavior to create a more productive environment for officials and the public. As an elected official, I aim to model respectful discourse and focus on the issue, not the person. I would be dishonest if I claimed this behavior is always easy; it is not. Civility requires hard work.
When public officials treat one another and their constituents with respect, even during heated disagreements, they set a positive example for civil discourse. Such conduct can reduce the intense hostility that characterizes deep political divisions and help achieve a genuine solution or compromise. When approaching a confrontational situation, it is best to model compromise and negotiation. Rather than seeing opponents as enemies, a civil environment allows public servants to view them as fellow citizens with valid, though different, perspectives. A civil attitude creates space for compromise, enabling officials to negotiate and collaborate to find common ground. Civility can reframe political disagreements from personal attacks into differences over policies and ideas. This shift discourages demonizing or shunning those with opposing views and instead focuses on evaluating policy solutions on their merits.
When public servants listen actively to understand another person’s perspective — rather than merely preparing a rebuttal — they can build empathy. This practice of deep listening recognizes the humanity of those with differing views and can help reduce the "us vs. them" mentality that fuels polarization. In local school board, city, and county government meetings, civility is strengthened when officials collaborate on tangible, community-focused issues such as infrastructure or disaster response. Focusing on these concrete, shared problems helps bridge partisan divides and reminds people of their common interests. President Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying, “A House divided against itself cannot stand.”
A perceived lack of civility and an environment of personal attacks can erode public trust in government and other institutions. By practicing civil conduct, public servants can restore confidence in democratic processes, which is essential to a functional, less divided society. Highly effective school boards play a crucial role in managing local districts by consistently prioritizing students’ best interests. Boards should demonstrate civility when celebrating achievements or addressing challenges. Successful school boards recognize that they govern, while the superintendent, district administrators, teachers, and staff manage their schools. Five key elements of effective school boards are setting a vision, advancing policy, demonstrating accountability, playing a leadership role in the community, and building civil consensus. The last element is often the hardest to maintain in today’s media-driven political climate. An effective board is comfortable with differing votes that reflect the community it serves. Confident boards encourage diverse opinions while working toward consensus, and decisions move forward by a majority vote that represents the people who elected the trustees.
When a trustee presents a motion and another trustee seconds it, the board then discusses, listens to, or votes on the motion. True democracy occurs when civility is maintained, authentic dialogue takes place, and a majority vote is reached. I encourage everyone reading this article to thank our locally elected trustees, attend a school board meeting, and participate in this public process with civility. The Institute for Local Government reminds us that local officials regularly handle complex issues. Including multiple perspectives on the best solution to a problem increases the likelihood that the solution will be successful and lasting. Please contact your local school district or the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education for more information. It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools.
“Be civil to all; serviceable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.” — Benjamin Franklin