If you see businessman Cary DuPuy this week, congratulate him for winning election to an at-large seat on the Waco school board. Then wish him luck. He’ll sure need it.

DuPuy takes office at a trying time for the local school district, especially with the Legislature reversing itself for the first time in memory and making huge cuts in funding of public education. Texans can argue about whether these cuts are warranted. In the meantime, school boards must make painful decisions about laying off employees, curtailing programs such as pre-kindergarten, even closing down some campuses.

We’re happy to see DuPuy now at the table. (He was sworn in just before the long holiday weekend.) Some board members seemed eager to get him on board a full week ago. It’s not hard to figure why he won the May 14 election: He vows to use his business background to make cuts as needed and has voiced his intention to back new Superintendent Bonny Cain as she crafts significant changes to adjust to this dawning era of austerity. And, yes, we suspect many voters felt confident about him because his mother, former Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy, is executive director of the Greater Waco Community Education Alliance, which has sought to bolster early childhood development and reinvigorate schools.

The feeling out there seems to go: If Cary DuPuy goes awry, his mother is sure to straighten him out or at least give him a piece of her mind. Whether he heeds or not is another matter. He made it clear to us during an editorial board meeting that he draws his own conclusions after careful thought.

We were also happy to see Toni Herbert take the oath for another term last week. Her overwhelming victory over an energetic challenger indicates that many constituents are, indeed, happy with the revitalization now underway in much of North Waco and downtown, as well as the increasing importance of the Brook Oaks Neighborhood Association, Sanger Heights Neighborhood Association and other groups eager to offer their thoughts and ideas about our city’s direction.

But the vigorous campaign of her challenger, caterer Jonya Williams, also reminds us of the need for city leaders to do a far better job of communicating with their constituents — at least, if the uproar about a proposed low-income housing complex in the area is any evidence. That said, we happily noticed Williams attending a council meeting after her election loss, learning more about the complexities of city government and biding her time for another opportunity to serve.

That’s encouraging and marks her a potential leader well worth watching.