We’re back to school!

We have a full plate over at the the Utah Association of Special Districts. The annual convention is coming in November and the Utah legislative general session happens in January so you’d think the last thing on our mind would be heading back to school.

You couldn’t be more wrong, on several counts. For starters, many of us are moms and dads, preparing our own kids for a return to the classroom. We’re putting together lunches again, coordinating schedules and doing our best at helping with homework.

But it goes beyond that in our local and special service districts. Many are offering services vital to a successful education. Here’s what we’re doing in your communities:

• Hop a ride! Take a tip from commuters in our public transit districts and let us do the driving. And if your kids are using the school bus systems, know we’re on the job with our road and snow removal districts, clearing the way for a safe ride to the classroom. No snow days off for us!

• Our parks and recreation districts are on the alert, too, coming up with afterschool and weekend programs for our youth and families. Our directory shows who is active your area, and from there, you can head to its website and find out what it has in the works. From organized sports to family hikes and auto fall color tours, we have a lot in store.

• And many of our districts will come to the classroom through the years, educating our young on the water issues Utah faces and tapping their ideas for solutions. Again and again, we hear from our water districts about how intelligent our young people are, a reassuring thought as our future rests in their hands.

This doesn’t even touch on the running water and wastewater services we deliver to the schools, the emergency crews we have on alert in case of problems and the many other ways our districts preserve quality of life for our fellow Utahns.

And, fellow districts, don’t forget to mark Nov. 7-9 down on your calendar for our annual UASD convention at the Davis Conference Center in Layton. Talk about education; wait until you see what we have in store for you!