By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka School Board voted unanimously at a special meeting Wednesday to appoint Danielle Snyder to fill a vacancy on the board.
Initially, Snyder was one of two applicants to serve on the board until the Oct. 3 election, but Steve Gage, a former board member who had expressed interest in the post, withdrew his name from consideration prior to Wednesday’s meeting.
The seat became vacant with the resignation of Mitch Mork in March.
Snyder is a landscape architect with the U.S. Forest Service in Sitka. She attended the special meeting over Zoom from Cordova, where she was on a work assignment.
In the Zoom interview, Snyder told the board that her time with the Forest Service has prepared her to reconcile the interests of numerous parties in making decisions.
“My work experience in the federal government is a good education in working with various stakeholders towards a common goal,” she said. “And in addition, I volunteer with the Fire Department - and that’s a bunch of varied people all working towards the same objective, and I’m focused on creating a sense of team and a sense of belonging.”
Snyder said in her letter of interest for the board appointment that she first came to Sitka in 2000 as an AmeriCorps volunteer, and has been with the Forest Service since 2009.
With a fourth grader in Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary, she told the board she has “an interest in the school district and providing a great education. There was obviously a need, and I felt that I had the capacity to help out.”
Snyder acknowledged she’s unfamiliar with the workings of the board, but said she’ll support its mission as best she can.
“To be honest, I can’t say that I would know what the different areas are. But overall, I want the kids to have a great education, I want the staff to feel supported, and I want the town to be proud of our school district,” she said.
The board, and individual members, received a number of expressions of support for Snyder.
“We did have many people comment about how you would serve and how much faith they had in you,” board president Blossom Teal-Olsen said. “... I have had several comments as well, weighing in on how they would expect nothing but the best for you. So I’m excited to work with you.”
Board member Tristan Guevin said he’s pleased that Snyder is joining the board.
“I also just wanted to say for public record that we’ve received a number of emails as a board, kind of letters of recommendation or references for Dani,” Guevin said, “and I’ve had, you know, at least three or more people come up to me unprompted and give very glowing recommendations.”
Following the board’s 4-0 vote to appoint Snyder to the position, Snyder took the oath of office via Zoom. She will hold the position until the Oct. 3 municipal election.
In a follow up text to the Sentinel, Snyder said she’s looking forward to her five-and-a-half-month term on the board.
“I’m just excited to get up to speed about how the School Board works and learning the ropes... (and) getting a better knowledge of how the Sitka school system works and what some of the challenges and opportunities are,” she wrote.
Following the brief interview and swearing-in ceremony, the board approved a contract with Steve Bradshaw as interim superintendent. Bradshaw, who now lives in Montana, is a former superintendent of the Sitka School District. He will hold the temporary position while the School Board conducts a search for a fulltime replacement for Frank Hauser, who is leaving at the start of July to become superintendent of the Juneau School District.
The School Board meets again at 6 p.m. tonight in the Sitka High School library to discuss and adopt a final budget for fiscal year 2024.
