The Haines Borough school board on Tuesday almost voted to do away with printed meeting packets, before getting hung up on the question of providing computers to board members.
Board members instead voiced support for posting meeting packet information and agendas on the district’s website.
Tuesday’s discussion started with superintendent Ginger Jewell’s recommendation that the district spend $2,250 annually on a subscription to “Boardbook,” a service that allows school officials to quickly build meeting packets online.
Jewell told board members the program would allow her to cut in half the time required to assemble packets for their monthly meetings. She said hours of work are spent before each meeting changing the agenda and packet contents as new information and issues arise.
The idea hit resistance with Jewell’s suggestion that use of the program include discontinuation of paper packets. Member Brenda Josephson said using a computer to follow a meeting would be cumbersome. “I have to have the paper.”
Member Brian Clay said a computer he has only works half the time. “You can have all the technology in the world, but you’re asking me down here with a laptop. We’d all have to bring a laptop.”
Jewell said it hadn’t occurred to her that not all board members would have mobile devices.
Board members, including student representative Christine Briggs, suggested school computers might be available for use at meetings, but Josephson said that arrangement would mean members wouldn’t have an opportunity to review packets until the start of meetings.
Member Sara Chapell said she understood from previous superintendent Michael Byer that preparing packets was “a bear.” “You could tell. It was a lot of work.” Scott Doddridge said the board should defer to Jewell’s recommendation and try the program for one year. “Our superintendent is a go-getter who’s goal-oriented. This will make her job easier. It’s a wise move to give it a try.”
A vote to table the purchase failed, and a subsequent motion to give authorization for Jewell to buy the program also failed. Opponents of buying the program included Anne Marie Palmieri, Sarah Swinton, Josphson and Clay. Palmieri raised questions about information retrieval from the subscription service and questioned the time-savings involved in making the switch, noting that uploading information to the website would also eat up staff time.
Before the voting started, Josephson said it wasn’t unreasonable that board members get time to consider such a change.
The Haines Borough Assembly discontinued paper meeting packets about two years ago, when packets were growing in length to 300 pages or more per meeting. The move included the borough purchasing iPads for all assembly members and the mayor.