MSBSD holds first meeting after controversial policy changes

The Wednesday meeting of the Matanuska Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) school board meeting was the first since two policy changes were made by the school board to make their meetings “more efficient.”

The first change was to implement a “lottery” system for public testimony during school board meetings, a change that was unanimously passed at the last meeting. Now, if more than 20 people sign up to speak during public testimony, the board will implement a lottery and randomly draw names from those signed up wanting to speak at the meetings.

Opponents to the measure said that it was the policy limits the public’s right to speak on matters concerning education, the school district, and students.

“I am concerned that the randomization of people who have signed up to speak is an attempt to silence more voices. There are times, when a group of people need more than three minutes to communicate with the board and the public. It has occurred in the past that a group will have successive people present three minute portions of a longer speech in order to effectively communicate. This randomization will prevent that,” said Diane Shibe at the August 16 schoolboard meeting, when the policy was first introduced.

“We added in the lottery solely to make it fair if more than 20 people sign up,” Kathy McCollum shared during the board meeting on Sept. 6. “It was not in any way used to limit who can speak.”

The second policy change, which changed the ‘board membership,’ policy when it moved the Student Advisory Board Representative (SABR) from the dais to the audience, also took full effect at the meeting.

Current SABR Ben Kolendo gave his report to the board, in which he discussed the recent first meeting of the SAB, which included a 45-minute presentation and review of Roberts Rules, discussion with Mat-Su Opioid Task Force Chair Michael Carson, and identified issues within the health curriculum require attention, and discussion of school board actions that have a direct impact on the student body.

Additionally, Kolendo did ask for the board to support items on the agenda, specifically a grant for neglected and delinquent youth that will help bridge education and reduce recidivism within the district.

During the regularly scheduled school board meeting, which was held at Houston High School, the lottery system was not needed as fewer than ten people spoke during the ‘Persons to be heard on Non-Agenda Items’ portion of the meeting at the beginning of the session, and fewer still at the end of the meeting, when public commenting is open to items on and off of the agenda.

MSBSD did issue a statement regarding the lottery system change, stating that the only change to the policy was to provide a more equitable selection of individuals for public testimony and that it in no way limits comments.

“What the school board changed in the policy is if more than 20 people sign up for ‘Persons to be Heard on Non-Agenda Items’ a randomized lottery system will select the individuals to speak,” the statement read, while reiterating that stance that in past meetings, the first 20 individuals that could arrive early to the meeting were able to sign up and ensure a slot, and that now people who might not be able to arrive early enough to sign up still have the same chance to speak.

“Now, individuals that may not be able to arrive early to the meeting have a better opportunity to orally address the School Board. This provides a more fair and equitable process for selection of members of the public.”

During the public comment portions of the meeting, the majority of the speakers discussed their support or opposition to the MSBSD’s Library Citizens’ Advisory Committee and the removal of books from the libraries.

Meanwhile, it was business as usual for the board, who approved the draft of the MSBSD long term plan, revisions to the FY 2024 Fall budget, which included changes to the General Fund, American Rescue Plan, whose funding is set to expire next year, and changes to the Capital Improvement Plan Fund, which increases transfers to this fund by $365,000. This increase is specific to the Boiler Replacement project at Palmer High School.

The board also approved the contract for district-wide IEP development toolkit software for the next three years, and accepted and approved the Neglected and Delinquent Youth Competitive Three Year Grant, which was made available under the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and will provide transition services and graduation coaching to incarcerated youth attending the Mat-Su Secondary School.

The next school district board meeting will take place on October 4 at 6:00 pm at the MSBSD Administrative Building in Palmer.