School board to evaluate itself

Michael Rovito/Frontiersman

Coming on the heels of a seemingly contentious appointment to the Mat-Su Borough School Board last week, the board will evaluate itself Thursday evening in an open to the public meeting expected to expound on both successes and issues within the board.

The evaluation is billed as a chance for the board to come to a collective decision on how to improve itself.

Associate executive director of the Association of Alaska School Boards, Joseph Reeves, who is facilitating the evaluation, said he will also help the board develop a betterment plan.

“I want the board to say 'if we all feel as though we could do better in one area what are we able to agree on that would permit us to do that,'” Reeves said.

The board's self evaluation came up last week after board vice president, Cheryl Turner, reportedly said new board appointee Myrl Thompson is only using his board seat as a way to get to Alaska's Legislature. The gaffe caused concern among some board members, with board president Sarah Welton saying the issue of how board members treat each other in public will be discussed during the meeting.

Reeves said he does not dictate what the board will talk about, but simply ensures the conversations are productive and run smoothly.

On Wednesday, Welton touted the importance of the board's self evaluation.

“It's to remind ourselves why we're serving on the board,” Welton said.

She added that taking a look at the board as a whole – from the perspective of a board member – can create a litmus test of sorts.

“A lot of boards don't take the time to really evaluate what they're doing,” Welton said. “I think a formal measure helps.”

The public is invited to attend the meeting, however there is no time set for public comments. Welton said directors from various departments around the district have been invited to give their assessments if need be.

The Turner/Thompson flap seems to have inspired at least one topic of conversation during the evaluation.

Welton said recent issues that have arisen – particularly those involving controversy in the press – will be discussed.

“We don't want controversy in the press,” Welton said.

The school board's self evaluation will begin at 5 p.m. in Conference Room No. 1 at the Mat-Su Borough School District Administration Building at 501 N. Gulkan St., in Palmer.

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