Discord breeds defeat during tumultuous year

Frontiersman editorial board

If there was a lesson to be learned in the Valley in 2002, it was that discord breeds failure and cooperation breeds success. Where there was cause for congratulations, celebration and praise, it followed on the heels of a compromise or a cooperative effort. Where disappointment and disapproval were the order of the day, it followed close behind partisan politics or ugly negotiations.

During budget talks last year, representatives from the Mat-Su Borough argued against funding for "non-essential" items, such as the arts and state parks. At least one Valley representative believes the parks would be better off privatized. In the end, a budget shortfall led to the closure of several state parks during the busy summer months -- most of them in the Valley. Some Valley representatives believed the closures were in retaliation for their stand against additional funding. Though nobody at the state Legislature would confirm that, it does stand to reason. So, who's to blame for the closure? Everyone who couldn't reach a compromise that worked for all Alaskans is to blame. The people who make critical decisions without the foresight to assess ramifications are to blame. Next time, we'll take a solution rather than am impasse. The heroes of the parks fiasco were the citizens of the Big Lake area who cooperated and worked hard to keep their park open and clean.

There was some costly venom at the school district in 2002, as well. After it was discovered that some teachers at one school were having inappropriate relationships with some students, Superintendent Pat Chesbro made some administrative changes throughout the district -- changes that involved moving some people into positions they didn't want. There was a backlash, and an ugly, and sometimes childish, struggle led to the eventual resignation of Chesbro and her assistant superintendent. The reasons leading to Chesbro's resignation had more to do with politics than with competency. Had she been obviously incompetent, she could simply have been removed. The revolving door at the superintendent's office will continue to spin until the board and the administration learn to compromise and cooperate -- and quality education in the Valley will pay the price. Let's hope the lessons of 2002 are applied in 2003.