It was very troubling to see former ASD school board members attack a current board member in a recent commentary. This is counterproductive, and I wonder about the agenda of these former members.As a researcher in education public policy, I watch a lot of Anchorage School Board meetings. Anyone who observed Starr Marsett struggling with procedural motions and Robert’s Rules of Order at school board meetings during the past four years recognizes the true irony of the allegations that Dave Donley’s motions against mandatory masking of students were “out of order.” Time and again, former Sen. Donley had to educate former Board President Marsett in Robert’s Rules of Order and how to conduct a meeting.
By the way, the mandatory masking policy was on the agenda. It was in Superintendent Deena Bishop’s report to the board. However, it was apparent that the issue had already been decided, regardless of how parents felt. And the school board was able to wash its hands of the controversy by not voting. So next election, those six who did not want to be held accountable for their actions will say they did not vote for masking. But not voting is a vote — with no debate or discussion.
Donley’s other critic, former board member Alisha Hilde, joined Marsett many times in unfairly trying to prevent Donley from talking during school board meetings when they disagreed with his point of view. It was shameful. Donley held member Hilde accountable for her pushing another failed Common Core math program on our kids, and she did not like that.
Donley chaired many Senate and House committees during his 16 years in the Legislature. He was widely respected and recognized as a fair chairperson. I trust his knowledge of meeting procedures way more than former board members Hilde or Marsett. If Donley had not made the motions he made in favor of parental choice and against mandatory masking, there would never have been a vote on the record before school started this fall, so the public would know who on the board was for and against.
We all need to recognize the need for open and complete discussion of important issues before the ASD school board. Shutting down debate is not transparency. Transparency is a value of the ASD. It must abide by its values or fail Anchorage parents.
— David Boyle
Anchorage
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