By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
No letters of interest for appointment to the vacancy on the Sitka School Board were received by the Monday deadline, so the application period has been extended to April 12, school officials said.
Mitch Mork, who was elected to a three-year term in October, notified fellow School Board members on March 20 that he would resign, effective March 21.
After accepting his resignation, School Board members agreed that applications for the vacancy would be accepted through March 27 and they could make the appointment at their April 5 meeting.
To be eligible for serving on the School Board an applicant must be registered to vote in Alaska and a resident in the Sitka School District for 30 days before taking office.
School Board member Tristan Guevin emphasized the importance of having a full five-member board, “particularly at a time we’re finalizing next year’s budget and beginning the process to fill the permanent superintendent position.”
Guevin said that he will be looking for “someone with an interest in education and wants to be an advocate for the Sitka School District and public education.”
School Board President Blossom Teal-Olsen added:
“Above all, for me personally I want someone willing and able to dedicate time to our children and to work together to make sure we provide a great place of employment for our educators. When they are successful our children are successful.”
The names of applicants will be announced April 13, and comments on the candidates from the public will be due by April 18, the school district said. The appointment is scheduled for a special board meeting on April 19. The appointee will serve on the School Board until the city election in October when a candidate will be elected to serve the final two years of Mork’s term.
Current board members are Guevin, Teal-Olsen, Melonie Boord and Todd Gebler.
Those needing information can go to the school district website at sitkaschools.org or call the district office at 907-747-8622.
