End of an era: Mat-Su school board member resigns

WASILLA -- For some people, it's hard to imagine a Mat-Su Borough School Board without Robert Johnson. On Wednesday night, however, the board reluctantly accepted his resignation and his long run as a board member came to a conclusion.

In a phone interview Thursday morning, Johnson said he has no ill will toward the board members or the administration.

"It's just time for me to move on," he said. "We have a tremendous group of board members. They're all there for the right reasons and they're great people."

Several factors played into Johnson's decision to resign, including the fact that the last of his five children graduated from high school in 2003, and his work load has increased lately due to snowfall and long hours. As a foreman for the Department of Transportation, Johnson oversees Valley snow-plowing crews.

"It's made it more difficult to make the Wednesday-night meetings," he said. "It's gotten to the point where I couldn't make the last two meetings, and if you can't make every meeting then you miss out quite a bit."

On Wednesday, Johnson's name placard sat on the large wooden conference table in the same location it has been for nearly two decades, but his seat, next to longtime board member Dan Contini, was empty.

"I didn't want Bob to leave," Contini said during the board meeting. "I'm here because of Bob. I couldn't meet on Mondays, and Bob helped move the meetings to Wednesday so I could serve. So as long as I'm here, Bob should be here."

Johnson was the longest serving active member of the board before he resigned. He first served on the school board between 1984 and 1996, then came back between 1999 and 2004, for a total of 17 years.

"Bob Johnson has served with obvious distinction," said School Board President Mike Chmielewski. "I think he set a style that would well be emulated."

Johnson was born and raised in Alaska and graduated from Palmer High School in 1966. With teacher contracts settled and construction of a new vocational education building on track to begin soon, Johnson said the time was right to step down.

"I've worked for vocational education since 1984 by promoting construction trades," he said, "and I'm content with the way the board is moving."

"I will miss Bob," said School Board Member Larry DeVilbiss. "He's the only one on this board whose history as a student in this district goes back as far as mine."

In reflecting on his tenure with the board, Johnson said he learned something from every person he ever served with.

"I always like to think back to some of the board members that played a tremendous impact on molding new board members," Johnson said. "Those people were always with me in making decisions because of the values and mentoring they offer me. There were some fantastic people on the board."

With a little more time on his hands now, Johnson hopes to get his pilot's license.

"I'm taking flying lessons and I want to take a Wednesday night course at the college," he said. "It's a major step to resign, but sometimes you just get tired with too much on your plate."

Johnson said the timing of his resignation will give his successor a chance to come up to speed before the budget cycle discussions begin.

Johnson said he is proud to have served on the board.

"I have no education background. I'm just a blue-collar worker and blue-collar workers make a difference."

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.