Board changes nixed

Assembly's tie vote ends question of districting school board seats

July 23, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman

WASILLA - The Mat-Su Borough Assembly couldn't make up its mind Tuesday. A motion that would have allowed voters to decide whether they wanted districts for school board seats failed after a 3-3 vote.

&#8220If we can't come to a decision, it's a shame that it couldn't go forward to the voters,” co-sponsor Betty Vehrs said after the meeting, &#8220I believe that the people of the borough are best suited to determine who represents them. Especially after a 3-3 tie.”

The ordinance would have given voters the opportunity to decide whether to establish geographical areas, similar to the assembly's representative districts, for the school board. The measure would have phased in districts over a three-year period.

Talis Colberg led the charge in questioning the need for districts. He challenged Mayor Tim Anderson's claim that the majority of school board members live in the core area.

&#8220It took me a little work, but I found out that the majority of the school board members live outside the core area,” Colberg said. &#8220Sarah Welton is the only member who lives in the Palmer-Wasilla core area. The rest of the members live outside the area. Technically, the outlying areas are over-represented and not under-represented as the mayor claims. Plus, I haven't heard from any of my constituents that they want this.”

The borough definition of the core area is the land located between Palmer and Wasilla, dipping south to the Palmer Hay Flats and north in parts to the Little Su River.

Colberg also questioned the motivation behind the ordinance.

&#8220Under the plan set forth in the ordinance, none of the current school board members could continue to serve when their seat is up for re-election,” Colberg said. &#8220That may be the goal, to get a new school board. To have designed this so none of the current board can continue to serve is suspicious.”

Vehrs, who represents the Upper Susitna Valley, dismissed the removal of the current board as motivation for sponsoring the measure. She said overwhelming demand from the people she represents was the driving force for her.

&#8220This was born out of a clamoring from the people in my district and all over the borough,” she said. &#8220Ever since the problem with the Su Valley roof problem came to light, I've been asked who represents the area on the school board. When I say no one, the people express frustration.”

Retired teacher Jody Fitzgerald of Talkeetna asked the body to allow voters the final say on the matter.

&#8220I gave them a petition with the signatures of 346 registered voters from Willow, Talkeetna, Palmer and Wasilla,” Fitzgerald said. &#8220That is an indication the people want to be allowed to vote on this.”

Despite her pleas and the petition, the assembly was split on the measure, with Bill Allen, Jim Colver and Talis Colberg voting no. Vehrs, Cindy Bettine, and Lynne Woods cast votes in favor. Assembly member Mary Kvalheim was home recovering from surgery and didn't attend the meeting. Anderson, who could have broken the tie vote, was on vacation.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.