LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Chamber Hears from School Board Candidates
By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
Two of the three candidates for the Sitka School Board took part in a forum at the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday at the Westmark.
Eric Van Cise, who is seeking a second term on the board, and Amy Morrison answered questions from moderator Sheila Finkenbinder. Van Cise has two sons who went through the Sitka schools, and Morrison has three daughters who also have attended the district schools.
Cass Pook, a board member since 2000, was out of town. She is married with five daughters.
An opening written statement by Pook highlighted that she felt privileged to advocate for the district’s children in Sitka as well as on a state level. Her focus is school climate, a welcoming environment, and student achievement outside the box of core classes, such as vocational and extracurricular activities to foster wellness and success in the children.
Van Cise said his three years of board experience amid the good things going on in the district are something he hopes to continue with.
Morrison said her degree in business combined with work experience at an insurance company will bring a lot of value to the board as well as a fresh perspective.
On what they believed was the single most important responsibility of a school board member, Morrison said student achievement.
“By that I mean in all aspects,” she said. “The academic achievement, but also, like Cass said, extracurricular activities, music, arts, sports… I also think developing students with life skills, which is one thing I do think is lacking in our schools right now.”
Morrison cited learning personal banking, taxes and insurance as examples.
“Student achievement and raising these kids to be the best people they can be, best citizens they can be and be prepared for college and career or whatever comes after high school,” she said.
Van Cise said a board member’s duty revolves around assuring a safe and equal access environment for children.
“It is paramount to me that they want to go to school, they look forward to being there, and when they are actually on the campus, whatever school it is, they are having fun, they feel safe and supported.…” he said.
Sitka School Board candidates Amy Morrison and Eric Van Cise listen to questions during Wednesday’s Chamber of Commerce candidate forum. Three candidates, including incumbent Cass Pook who was not at the forum, are running for two open seats. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
He mentioned the longevity and the diversity of the district staff, and the demographics of the student population as also important.
The candidates were asked what the school district can do to better prepare students to enter the workforce.
Van Cise noted opportunities to tie them into the curriculum, the labs and activities; and teaching them, even at a young age, such values as being on time, being responsible, and working with apprenticeship programs.
“Even just the simple manners,” he said. “Learning, being patient, and when the task is asked to be done, building those building blocks so when they move on to a profession or career they are willing to learn, willing to listen, and be an actual asset for an outfit not a challenge.”
Morrison reiterated life skills being taught.
She said her daughter graduated with none of those skills being taught in school, and she would like to see them incorporated more. She also stated her daughter was prepared for college due to the district’s vocational education classes and preparing kids for testing and dual credits.
“The one thing I do worry about is the kids that do not want to go to college,” she said. “Do they have the skills they need when they graduate to go right into a job.”
She would like to see more collaboration between businesses and the community and the schools, and more opportunities for mentoring and work experience for students.
Both agreed that the biggest challenge facing the school board in the next year is the budget and finances.
Morrison acknowledged it’s hard to know in advance where funding is coming from and how much of it there will be. She would like to figure out ways to be more on top of the budget, and find creative ways to maintain the various programs while not having to cut curriculum.
“Adding curriculum, actually,” she said. “Not having to cut sports or the PAC or the music programs… but realize, with some of the limited monies we have some of those hard choices have to be made…”
Van Cise said the board whittled down some reserves after listening to the needs of parents, students, and teachers, and took that risk to keep staffing at levels beneficial and workable for them all.
He said effective outreach is the best way to solve the budget problem.
“My goal would be to increase effective communication with families, how they can reach us, and also holding our legislators accountable to getting their budget done on time,” he said. “Because everything is predicated on that process.…”
Audience members had questions. They wanted to know that if the budget had to be cut where the candidates would cut it and why.
Both Van Cise and Morrison agreed input and outreach to staff and parents and community were vital.
“When that decision has to be made it is not a fun decision,” Van Cise said. “But I can rest easier knowing that it is something our community looked at and came to the best of their conclusion.”
He also noted the board would have to look at the risk/benefit and the impact of the cuts in the long term.
“I think that just really listening to people to find out what is the most important,” Morrison said.
They were asked how policy plays into the role of a school board member.
Morrison said the board develops policy by listening to the administration, staff, and members of the public.
Van Cise said policy keeps the board on track and keeps members accountable and the process transparent .
Finkenbinder read another question from an audience member stating they were for gym, music, the PAC, art and general education, especially promoting good citizenship, voting, math, English, but “I do not understand why I am paying for sports. It should be a private endeavor. What is your view?”
Van Cise cited sports activities as a percentage of the budget, and evaluated the amount of that money across the big picture.
“The benefit that we get by keeping students engaged because they are held to standards when they are engaged in sports,” he said. “There are grades, not just Sitka but state-based grades requirements… and sometimes that is what is keeping a child in school.”
Morrison commented that, as a parent of kids in sports, she knows the families pay a lot of the cost for being in those activities.
“For me it goes along with everything else we talked about today,” she said. “It is all about student achievement, and sports has been shown to develop kids in so many ways…”
Both said sports make kids better students and hold them accountable.
An audience member asked what was wrong with the school system if the kids don’t want to learn without having sports… why didn’t the value of education start in kindergarten … that kids should be in school because they want to learn.
“I don’t think you have to have sports for kids to want to learn,” Morrison said. “I think there are going to be times in anyone’s career as a student … that maybe you get a little bit burnt out on it. I think sports enhances that. It gives you something to be excited about.”
Van Cise said he has learned that a lot of a child’s desire to want to be at school, be it sports or whatever, starts and ends at home.
“I view it as one of a set of tools in our tool box that can potentially keep them engaged,” he said. “Is it ideal, is it perfect? No, but from my standpoint whatever we can do to try and keep a child in school, engaged, not the sole reason, but if we can have them interested maybe we can get somewhere with them.”
On other issues both agreed proper cell phone use begins at home, and they support district policy, such as Blatchley’s of checking them in before class.
In closing, Morrison said she just wants to serve, give back, and wants to see kids graduate and come back to live in Sitka.
Van Cise said after three years of experience he feels much more prepared and feels a strong dedication to the district and helping it work proactively not reactively,
All three school board candidates will be answering questions from 6:30-8 p.m. tonight on Raven Radio, KCAW-FM 104.7. The municipal election in Sitka is Tuesday, October 2.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.