People half Helens age couldnt keep up with her, so why should she have stepped down?
Because in her later years she lost her sharpness, or her edge. She lost the ability to recognize those who had her best interest at heart or more importantly, those who didn't. She became easily persuaded and even easier to be fooled.
But, this can be saved for a new topic and was only being used as an example of staying in a position longer than voters should allow.
Young or old, like it or not, we now live in a politically correct world (on steroids) and no matter who sits on any board, our schools will be ran accordingly to fit today's new political climate.
This is more about having your turn, then stepping aside and opening up possibilities to the next in line. When you have a Nancy or John Smith, with no political connection to anyone in this town, wanting to toss their hat into the ring, but they know they are going against these same last names that have jumped from one color square to the next for generations in the Granite City game of chess or checkers, they know not to even bother, because they do not stand a chance.
The point being, when is enough, enough for these people?