Originally posted to the web in News, on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 2:44 PM CDT.
Congress considers larger board
By Patti Jares, Staff Writer
On Nov. 2, Congress voters will have a decision to make - to keep the three-person Congress School District Governing Board, or add two additional seats.
In the spring of 2008, Congress resident Jean Warren drew up a petition to increase the school board, collected signatures, and successfully filed the paperwork in early August to place the decision on the ballot.
There are four residents running for the board positions: Barbara Langley-Rejon, Julie Grasse, Sally Bell and incumbent Board President Pat Fisher.
According to Congress Elementary School Superintendent Toni Wayas, a five-person board could be a good thing.
“If you have good people on the board who put the interest of children first, I think it would bring more ideas and I think a greater enthusiasm,” said Wayas. “But if there are negative people with their own agendas, then it would be disruptive to the educational process.”
According to an article titled “Reasoning,” submitted to the Wickenburg Sun by Warren to explain her actions, one of several reasons she filed the petition was because “Congress School District is the only remaining transport district in Yavapai County that has a three-man board.”
“Not true,” responded Yavapai County Supervisor Tim Carter, explaining that not only is Congress no longer a transport district (a school district without a school), but there are 30 schools in Yavapai County with three-person boards - and there are two transport districts in the county - Walnut Creek and Williamson Valley.
According to Warren, Congress is the second largest school district in Yavapai County.
“Congress is certainly not second in student population,” said Carter, adding that Congress has less than 125 students. “As far as land, the district is the second largest, but it is very, very low in student population.”
Warren’s article cites public turmoil for the last several years in the district, and “a disconnect between the community and the district staff.”
With 85 percent of the district’s parents involved in the recent open house, Wayas disagrees with the information. With a stellar list of accomplishments over the last several years, Wayas believes the school’s record speaks for itself.
In the last six years, Congress Elementary School has gone from the state rating of “under-performing” to “performing,” “performing plus” and has been rated as “excelling” for the last two years - the highest rating possible.
Congress Elementary School district is rated seventh from the top in Arizona among 220 rural school districts, and on April 22, Arizona School Superintendent Tom Horne presented Wayas with a certificate of recognition for “leadership, dedication and hard work.”
Today (Wednesday, Sept. 10), a representative of Toshiba arrived from California to meet Wayas. The company is writing an article on the school and their innovative technology program.
“I have to say that our teachers are the ones who are getting things done,” said Wayas. “But one reason we’ve done so well is the support we receive from our board. Their forward thinking and willingness to put our children first is reflected in the success of our school.”
But according to Warren, three people cannot realistically represent the people of Congress effectively.
Superintendent Carter believes a three-person board can be effective, but feels a five-person board can be better for multiple reasons.
“I generally encourage a five-person board because it causes more direct citizen participation; more people are involved, and it brings additional thoughts and minds to the table. It also alleviates the risk of breaking the open meeting law.
“But there are disadvantages,” added Carter.
According to Carter, larger school boards are an additional cost to the taxpayer.
“It is minimal,” said Carter, “but if the district is sending board members for training, it could cost $500 to $700 each, and the district pays for that. The district also pays for elections - more seats, more costs.”
Another disadvantage, according to Carter is that in very small communities like Congress, it can be difficult to find five citizens involved enough to run for a board position.
When there are no candidates to fill seats, it is up to the county superintendent to appoint board members.
“Historically, a community will get involved with an issue and residents will run for a position on the board,” said Wayas. “But when the issue blows over, the community is faced with keeping the seats on the school board filled.”
In the 38 months that Carter has been county supervisor, he has made 37 appointments.
“That’s an average of one a month,” he acknowledged. “In talking to other superintendents in the state, that’s not an unusual number.”
“In some cases I have to go out and ‘beat the bushes’ to find people to run,” admitted Carter.
In addition, once a school board becomes a five-person board, there is no provision to return to a three-person board.
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