By Klas Stolpe
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka School Board met Monday night to swear in the two winners of the Oct. 2 municipal election, Amy Morrison and incumbent Eric Van Cise.
“Definitely getting sworn in and sitting at the table, it’s real,” Morrison said.
She stated her aspirations are to advocate for kids.
“Same thing I have been saying for the whole campaign,” she said. “Just to be able to fight for kids and put some input in wherever I can.”
Morrison replaces Cass Pook on the five-member board.
During Monday’s special meeting, the board also chose officers for the coming year, writing their choices for each position on slips of paper. The name that appeared on three or more votes was elected. Jennifer McNichol retained her board chair position, Elias Erickson was selected vice chair, and Eric Van Cise was selected board clerk.
“I have a fresh pen for signing stuff,” Van Cise said.
New School Board members Eric Van Cise and Amy Morrison are sworn in Monday night at the District Office during the Sitka School Board special meeting. (Sentinel photo by Klas Stolpe)
In new business, the board voted unanimously for outgoing member Cass Pook to represent the board at the Alaska Association of School Boards meeting in November.
“The reasoning on that, just to make it clear, Cass is serving on the AASB board of directors,” McNichol said. “She is on a one-year term that is completed with the seating of the new AASB board, the election of which happens at that conference.”
The board also made school liaison assignments, naming Van Cise to work with Blatchley Middle School, Erickson with Baranof Elementary, McNichol with Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary, Dionne Brady-Howard with Pacific High School, and Morrison with Sitka High School.
Erickson was also selected to be the board’s legislative liaison.
Following up on their work sessions on public communication, they decided that Van Cise will work with local news media, Erickson with social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, and Brady-Howard will oversee a Google Docs page.
McNichol suggested that all board members should participate in email and face-to-face meetings.
The board also assigned members to various committees, with Morrison and McNichol taking the Policy Committee; McNichol and Erickson taking Activities; Erickson taking Technology; Morrison and Brady-Howard the Strategic Plan; Brady-Howard the Educator Evaluation; McNichol and Van Cise the Assembly; and Brady-Howard and McNichol the Tribal Council Committee.
