New school board to seat new officers

PALMER — The newest members of the Mat-Su Borough School Board will become official Wednesday when they are sworn in during the board’s regular meeting at Palmer High School.

Palmer residents R. Ole Larson and Brian Sullivan, the two freshman board members, will join a relatively young board with its most senior member, President Sarah Welton, at the helm.

Myrl Thompson, who was appointed to the board in April, also won re-election in an unopposed bid to keep his seat.

Wednesday’s regular meeting of the Mat-Su Borough School District Board of Education could include picking a new board president. Shortly after municipal elections wrapped up Oct. 7, some new board members indicated a change in the board’s leadership is imminent.

It’s unclear whether Welton will try to hold her position as board president. She did not return a call seeking comment by press time.

Larson said he’s hoping if there is a change in the board presidency it takes place without much controversy.

“What I’m hoping for is not a lot of splitting the board,” Larson said.

The makeup of the school board changed drastically following the election.

What was a female dominated board — with five women and two men — has swung to four men and three women.

It’s also comprised of many first-term members.

In an interview Monday, board member Jim Colver said he’s interested in the job of board president.

“I’d be honored to be selected for board president,” said Colver, who was elected in 2006.

Colver is now the second-most senior person on the board behind Welton. Colver added he’s looking forward to working with the relatively new board members.

“I think overall we’re going to have a pretty good board,” Colver said.

Colver will get support from at least one board member.

Sullivan said Monday he’s already committed to backing Colver for board president. Sullivan said that when the various positions on the board are decided, he’s looking forward to interesting budget discussions and focusing on the management of the district.

Susan Pougher, a board member elected last year, said not only will the board president’s job likely change, but the vice president and clerk are no longer on the board.

Former board member Cheryl Turner, who served as vice president, did not run to retain her seat this year and the former clerk, Pat Purcell, lost her seat to Larson.

Pougher said she expects a shift in topics discussed and brought forth during meetings because of the board’s new makeup.

“I think we started going a little different last year,” Pougher said, adding she’s looking forward to tackling the business side of the school board because the district’s educators are already doing a good job.

No matter who ends up in what position, it’s likely those who go to school board meetings regularly will see a significant shake-up. Wednesday’s meeting should determine who gets what responsibilities for the coming year.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Palmer High School Upper Library.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.