School district looks for a fresh start

For school board chairman Mike Gould, things are looking pretty good in the Sisters School District.

The district has a new superintendent who has made a strong impression right out of the gate and two new board members elected by large majorities last May. And despite several contentious issues that have kept the board in the hot seat for months, the board chair thinks there's a strong foundation on which to build.

"I didn't feel bad about where we were last year," Gould said. "I think there were some situations that arose that time will show weren't worthy of the time and effort that were invested in them and the destructive attitude that resulted from them. I really thought things were going OK over the last several months. I was pleased with it. I would expect whatever momentum we had will continue to roll."

Gould, who was unanimously reelected board chair last Monday night, July 9, commended former superintendent Ted Thonstad for preparing the path for incoming superintendent Elaine Drakulich.

"From all I can see he (Thonstad) did an extraordinary job of handing off. Speaking of a relay race, I think he was running full speed when he handed the baton to Elaine who seems to be starting off at full speed," Gould said.

According to Gould both the community and school district staff are excited about Drakulich.

"We all have really high expectations for what she can bring," said Gould.

Even with Gould's optimism, some clouds hang over the district. The state superintendent of public instruction Susan Castillo may this year start to withhold approximately $1.2 million in State School Funds (SSF) from the district for a disallowed homeschool program the district operated from 1999-2004 at Sonrise Christian School (now Sisters Christian Academy).

"We've done everything we can do," said Gould. "At this point it's a waiting game. There was money set aside in the budget being forward thinking to be able to begin making payments. So, if the decision came down a week from now, we'd be prepared to deal with it, and yet the final chapter of this may not be written for many weeks or many months. It's not in our control."

The district, as well as members of the board, will also have to deal in the upcoming months with the lawsuit that resident Mike Morgan, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the school board in the May election, has filed.

Morgan contends that the Sisters school board must keep written minutes and/or a sound or video tape of all its meetings, including executive sessions. Morgan's complaint seeks an injunction that forces compliance with record keeping provisions. Further, Morgan is asking for a judgment that grants him attorneys fees and costs.

Morgan has also attacked the district for the issuance of $2.1 million in full faith and credit obligations for the purchase of modular classrooms, the upgrading of lighting and the HVAC system and the installation of a new roof at the elementary school and the remodel at the middle school that will create two classrooms within the school's existing walls.

The district's financing method appears to be a common practice and was recommended by financial counselors, but Morgan argues that the issuance of the bonds required a vote of taxpayers.

The argument has become heated and personal.

"When somebody accuses you of being a thief, it affects your morale. Speaking of myself I've been accused of being a thief and using deception to steal. It's affected my morale, and I'm going to take the advice of my legal counsel, and I'm not saying anything more," Gould said.

Gould's challenge to the community is to "stay involved." His greatest hope is that community members will attend school board meetings and gain their own perspective about what's going on. He told The Nugget that both he and Drakulich share a common goal of community involvement.

"I hope that there are more people attending more board meetings, more people attending more site council meetings, more people being interested in what is going on in the schools," he said.