Divided board could not agree on trustee appointment
BY Jean Jacques Bohl
The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees was unable to appoint a replacement to fill in vacant Zone 3. The board interviewed four candidates on Tuesday, Sept. 20. The candidates are Irene Healy, Ellen Mandeville, Pam Plowman and Kaz Thea, all of Hailey.
At the meeting, Trustee Cami Bustos made a motion to appoint Thea, but it was defeated by a tie vote, 2 to 2. Trustee Rob Clayton then nominated Healy, but that motion was also defeated by a tie vote. The Weekly Sun contacted the four board members, Liz Corker, Shawn Bennion, Bustos and Clayton, and asked them to explain the reasoning behind their votes.
The Weekly Sun: On Tuesday evening you cast two votes. Would you please explain your votes.
Clayton: I nominated and voted for Irene Healy because I felt she was the best prepared, most articulate on the issues, passionate about serving the students of Blaine County and independent in her thinking. Irene has an extensive background in education and an intimate knowledge of the BCSD system.
She brought overwhelming support through the petitioned endorsements she received from her zone. The supporters signing her petition outnumbered the total of votes it took to be elected from her zone in the last contested election. To me, this is a mandate from her constituency that she is the appropriate appointee. She made it very clear that she has no hidden agenda and that she is willing to tackle the tough issues such as administrator compensation.
I was unable to vote for Kaz Thea after Chairman Bennion pointed out that her last interaction with the BCSD ended with her leaving the strategic planning committee she had volunteered for before the project was completed. After further looking into her statement that these meetings conflicted with her daily work, I discovered that the meetings were held in the evening, with dinner served to the volunteers. In regards to the other two candidates, I appreciate their coming forward, but felt that I had nominated and voted for the most qualified candidate. There were other trustees who did not nominate anyone and had the opportunity to put either of the remaining candidates up for a vote.
Corker: I voted for Kaz Thea for three reasons. First, she seemed to have a clear understanding that the job of the board is to represent the values of the community. She stated this at least five times: “I will clearly represent the citizens the board stands for.” “This job, you have to represent your community.” “You’re representing the community as an elected board member.” “The board represents the entire community.” “Policies have to be in line with the community.”
Second, Thea seemed to have a firm grasp on the main issues that concern the community. She stated that, first, the public feels that the board could be a better custodian of the public’s money, and second, that “class size” is a priority issue. This aligns with what I hear every day. Healy stated that a major issue she has heard is that the board needs to have “a sense of collaboration with the superintendent.”
Citizens I hear from think that the board needs a better sense of connection first with parents, teachers and community members.
Third, Healy’s view of the job seemed to be more passive than Thea’s. She stated that she views the job as “appraisal” of district outcomes. Thea viewed the job more proactively, as representing the community’s values in setting the vision for the school district.
Bennion and Bustos did not respond to The Weekly Sun’s request by press deadline. The board will open the vacancy to district residents during the next regular meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 12. If unable to appoint a candidate by Nov. 12, the three county commissioners will make the decision on whom to appoint to the vacancy.