Ronan School Board defends trustee oath
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RONAN — On Wednesday the Ronan school board, including the three recently sworn-in trustees, met, clearly upholding their original oaths given by district clerk Pamela Harris the Monday before.
The school board continued with Monday’s meeting, which proved to be contentious when it was cut short by Lake County Superintendent of Schools Gale Decker. Decker insisted that the Ronan School Board was incorrectly administering oaths to the recently elected trustees.
Decker said that the county superintendent of schools held the responsibility to administer oaths of newly elected trustees and without quorum, the school board couldn’t continue the meeting.
Monday’s meeting was adjourned and rescheduled for last Wednesday evening at 8 p.m.
On Wednesday Ronan School District’s lawyer Elizabeth Kaleva was in attendance to explain the code dealing with administering oaths to school board trustees to Decker, the school board and other community members present.
She explained that law clearly states that a notary public can give an oath to a trustee, but a trustee cannot serve on the board until that oath is filed with the superintendent.
“You have the authority under Montana law to swear in a trustee,” Kaleva said to district clerk Pamela Harris.
“(Montana Code Annotated) 20-2-205 tells you what Gale has to do,” Kaleva continued. “He is required to administer an oath when asked to do so.”
Decker asked to make a public comment to the board and noted that he is not interested in litigation over the matter.
“I think I could present a good case, but I will accept the decision that’s made tonight,” Decker said.
Kaleva explained that different lawyers may have different interpretations of the law, but there are specific statutes that deal directly with the issue and state that any notary public can swear in a trustee.
“I think we will just have to agree to disagree,” Kaleva said in a conciliatory comment.
The council went on to interview two candidates to fill a vacant trustee position on the school board. Nathan Cantlon and Tom Anderson both asked to be considered for the position.
When asked about the role of a school board member, Anderson responded that support was a main issue.
“I think that a board member should have an active role and goal to support the superintendent, kids and staff,” Anderson said.
Cantlon responded that the role of a school board member is to represent the interests of the people who elected the trustee in the seat.
The board appointed Anderson to fill the trustee vacancy position.
Board chairman Mark Clary moved to nominate newly elected trustee Chris Lynch to the chairman position. Lynch was approved as board chairman and trustee Jim Blow was approved as vice-chairman. Pam Harris was appointed as Ronan School District Clerk and Decker was asked to administer the oath for both Harris and Anderson.
Following a lengthy video that presented Race for the Top, the board took a vote deciding whether or not to apply for the funds.
The Montana Office of Public Instruction plans on applying for the federal funds, and requires that each district interested in participating in Race for the Top sign a memorandum of understanding.
But the school board voted unanimously to not sign the MOU for the Race for the Top Funds.
In a phone interview after the meeting, Superintendent Andy Holmlund said that he believed the board’s decision was based on a fear of the “erosion of local control.”
“The perception is that there is additional strings attached,” Holmlund commented.
He added that he supported the decision of the board because it’s his duty to support the elected officials.
The school board also tabled a discussion to move the 5th-grade class into the Ronan Middle School facilities for the 2011-2012 school year.
“Looking at existing facilities, (and) looking at our enrollment,” Holmlund said. “The middle school has the available space which would preclude any additional expense.”
Holmlund noted that the permanence of the move would be based on future enrollment and added that additional playground equipment and furniture would need to be purchased if the move is approved.
The school board will resume the discussion at the next school board meeting in June.
The board also cited a possible conflict of interest in their decision to table a decision on hiring Decker as the assistant boys’ basketball coach at the high school.
The next school board meeting will be held on June 14 at 7 p.m. in the high school library.
