“Now that it’s behind us we can get on to the work at hand.”

If that was not said Thursday night following the Selma City School Board’s meeting and approval of superintendent Donald Jefferson’s contract, it should have been. In fact, it’s worth saying twice.

“Now that it’s behind us we can get on to the work at hand.”

The lengthy and at times contentious contract negotiations seemed to dominate the school board’s discussion — and our coverage — for the past few months and it’s time for all of us to focus on what is most important; the education of our children.

We have often said the most valuable asset this community has is its children and the quality education we provide them.

In the face of state funding cuts and other revenue source cuts, the Selma City School Board and their counterparts at the Dallas County level must try to improve the quality of education provided to our children with dwindling resources.

That’s no easy task and it is our hope that the leaders we have in place are up to the job.

The funding problem does not look like it is going to improve anytime soon, but the demands on our teachers, our administrators and elected school leaders do not subside because the state and federal funding dollars now available are less than a few years ago.

The only way for our area to grow and thrive is to continue to build the foundation of a solid education for our children and to give the leaders of tomorrow the best chance at success.