One of the toughest things in the world to do sometimes is to build a consensus on an issue. Just ask any person who has ever served on a committee or a board.

A prime example of how not to build a consensus occurred last week behind the closed doors of the Natchez Board of Aldermen’s executive session.

The issue at hand was how to deal with the vacancy on the Natchez-Adams School Board following the death of board member Dr. David Steckler.

On the surface it seemed like a simple issue. But such issues are rarely as simple as they appear. One board member suggested appointing Steckler’s wife to fill the open seat.

The notion didn’t sit well with three board members so they got up and walked out, threatening to halt the regular meeting that was to follow by their absence. By walking out, the three members would force a cancellation of the meeting because of a lack of a quorum — the board is prohibited from meeting with three or more members absent. The walkout was not the way to handle the situation. But each of the six board members are to blame — not simply the three who walked out.

Although they might argue differently, the three protesting aldermen need to realize that the issue here isn’t appointed versus elected school board members. If that is what they are after they must work with the other city aldermen, county supervisors and our legislators to get that accomplished.

Any change in the status quo will only come if everyone is on the same page.

And the three alderman who did not protest should be asking themselves how they can help understand the other aldermen’s point of view. And, more important, how to find the common ground.

The board is like a creature with six legs — with each leg representing an alderman. If the board as a whole wants to accomplish anything, it must work together to get those six opposing legs moving in the proper direction. Not doing so gets the board, and consequently our city, nowhere.

And that’s exactly where we are now.