Three vying for open Ketchikan School Board seat

Three people have applied for a vacant position on the Ketchikan School Board, and will be interviewed on Wednesday.

The board also will vote on adopting the FY20 Ketchikan School District budget, following a public hearing.

The three board applicants are Leslie Becker, Gianna Flanery and Dave Timmerman.

In her application, Becker writes that she closely follows local government issues, and believes strongly in education. She previously worked as the executive director for the Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, and on chamber boards in California.

Flanery has served on the Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Council, and as KIC President. She writes that she has a unique perspective to offer the board. Flanery attended school locally and graduated from Ketchikan High School. She has family with special needs enrolled in the district, and has strong connections with the local Alaska Native community.

Timmerman served previously on the Ketchikan School Board. He writes in his application that his experience will provide an easy transition. Timmerman also has worked with other community boards and committees. He, along with the other candidates, lists the budget as a top concern for the district.

The Ketchikan School Board will interview each candidate near the start of Wednesday’s meeting. Board members then will choose one to appoint. That appointee will take the oath right away, and be seated.

It’s a temporary appointment. The seat will be on the ballot for the October local election.

The FY20 school district budget was introduced during a special meeting last week. It reflects a 3-percent spending reduction. The board talked during that April 17 meeting about whether to cut more, but no further cuts were proposed at that time.

The Ketchikan School District must submit a budget to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough by May 1^st.

In other matters, the school board will vote on whether to ratify a new contract with district classified employees. The contract was on a previous meeting agenda, but voting was postponed.

The contract, which takes effect July 1^st, will cost about $160,000 more in salaries. District officials said earlier this month that the bargaining group already was covered by new health insurance benefits negotiated last fall for teachers.

Wednesday’s school board meeting starts at 6 p.m. in borough assembly chambers at the White Cliff building. Public comment will be heard at the start and end of the meeting.