By John R. Moses
EDITOR
PALMER – The scramble is on, recruitment ads
are hitting newspapers and a school board
subcommittee is bracing for a tough job —
picking a new trustee by the end of this month.
School Board member Sandra White resigned her
seat April 2, citing a personal family crisis that
demands her time and attention. She resigned
effective April 3, after the end of her final school
board meeting in Palmer High School’s library.
There were no applicants as of April 8.
Potential applicants must write a “letter of intent”
describing his or her “ability to meet the legal
requirements to serve on the School Board, a
statement regarding their expressed interest in
serving on the School Board, and a resume
outlining their professional qualifications,”
according to Matanuska-Susitna Borough School
District spokesperson Catherine Esary.
Candidates will be interviewed and selected
during a special School Board meeting on April
30, at 6 p.m. in Palmer High School’s upstairs
library. The new board member will be sworn in
at the regular May 7 meeting. The appointee will
hold office until the next regular election for
district Board members.
“. . . I have experienced a recent family crisis
and, after introspection, have come to the
realization that I will be unable to devote the
personal time needed for the position of School
Board Member. To do otherwise would be an
injustice to the Board, the community, and to my
family,” she wrote in a letter given to
Superintendent of Schools George Troxel on
April 2.
White, who manages Talkeetna Air Taxi, left the
same night for a vacation Outside with a family
member and was unavailable for further
comment. The release gave no personal details
about the nature of the crisis.
“Serving on the Mat-Su School Board has been
fascinating and enriching,” she stated in a
prepared release. “I am impressed with the level
of professionalism, dedication to excellence and
willingness to ‘work together’ I see with the
current School District Administration. It’s
always about the people in any organization and
we are truly blessed in the Mat-Su.”
She was elected in October 2007.
Interviewed shortly before she resigned, White
said she enjoyed her time on the board and felt it
was “completely fascinating.”
She said she felt the most important and
rewarding part of her term happened during the
board’s strategic planning process, when she
said trustees worked hard together to create
goals for the district.
“It was great,” she said. “I feel good about the
process.”
Her resignation letter praised the superintendent
and board members.
“I truly appreciate your support and the hard
work of everyone at the school district. I am
continually impressed with the professionalism
and the determination to succeed with all
students that is demonstrated by you and the
dynamic team you have assembled,” she wrote.
“Serving on the School Board has been an
enriching experience. I have done my best to be a
valuable contributor during my short term and I
have high hopes that you will seek out and find
someone with passion for education and a
commitment to truth and excellence to fill Seat
G,” she wrote.
EDITOR
PALMER – The scramble is on, recruitment ads
are hitting newspapers and a school board
subcommittee is bracing for a tough job —
picking a new trustee by the end of this month.
School Board member Sandra White resigned her
seat April 2, citing a personal family crisis that
demands her time and attention. She resigned
effective April 3, after the end of her final school
board meeting in Palmer High School’s library.
There were no applicants as of April 8.
Potential applicants must write a “letter of intent”
describing his or her “ability to meet the legal
requirements to serve on the School Board, a
statement regarding their expressed interest in
serving on the School Board, and a resume
outlining their professional qualifications,”
according to Matanuska-Susitna Borough School
District spokesperson Catherine Esary.
Candidates will be interviewed and selected
during a special School Board meeting on April
30, at 6 p.m. in Palmer High School’s upstairs
library. The new board member will be sworn in
at the regular May 7 meeting. The appointee will
hold office until the next regular election for
district Board members.
“. . . I have experienced a recent family crisis
and, after introspection, have come to the
realization that I will be unable to devote the
personal time needed for the position of School
Board Member. To do otherwise would be an
injustice to the Board, the community, and to my
family,” she wrote in a letter given to
Superintendent of Schools George Troxel on
April 2.
White, who manages Talkeetna Air Taxi, left the
same night for a vacation Outside with a family
member and was unavailable for further
comment. The release gave no personal details
about the nature of the crisis.
“Serving on the Mat-Su School Board has been
fascinating and enriching,” she stated in a
prepared release. “I am impressed with the level
of professionalism, dedication to excellence and
willingness to ‘work together’ I see with the
current School District Administration. It’s
always about the people in any organization and
we are truly blessed in the Mat-Su.”
She was elected in October 2007.
Interviewed shortly before she resigned, White
said she enjoyed her time on the board and felt it
was “completely fascinating.”
She said she felt the most important and
rewarding part of her term happened during the
board’s strategic planning process, when she
said trustees worked hard together to create
goals for the district.
“It was great,” she said. “I feel good about the
process.”
Her resignation letter praised the superintendent
and board members.
“I truly appreciate your support and the hard
work of everyone at the school district. I am
continually impressed with the professionalism
and the determination to succeed with all
students that is demonstrated by you and the
dynamic team you have assembled,” she wrote.
“Serving on the School Board has been an
enriching experience. I have done my best to be a
valuable contributor during my short term and I
have high hopes that you will seek out and find
someone with passion for education and a
commitment to truth and excellence to fill Seat
G,” she wrote.
Talkeetna resident Sandra White watches as her daughter
Paris was among those on Susitna Valley Jr./Sr. High's
Academic Decathlon team being honored Wednesday by
the school board.
Paris was among those on Susitna Valley Jr./Sr. High's
Academic Decathlon team being honored Wednesday by
the school board.
Text of Resignation letter
April 1, 2008
George Troxel
Matanuska – Susitna School District
501 N. Gulkana
Palmer AK 99645
Dear Mr. Troxel,
This letter is to serve as notice of my
resignation from the Matanuska Susitna
School Board Seat G, effective April 3, 2008.
As you are well aware I have experienced a
recent family crisis and, after introspection,
have come to the realization that I will be
unable to devote the personal time needed
for the position of School Board Member.
To do otherwise would be an injustice to the
Board, the community, and to my family.
I truly appreciate your support and the hard
work of everyone at the school district. I am
continually impressed with the
professionalism and the determination to
succeed with all students that is
demonstrated by you and the dynamic team
you have assembled.
Serving on the School Board has been an
enriching experience. I have done my best
to be a valuable contributor during my short
term and I have high hopes that you will
seek out and find someone with passion for
education and a commitment to truth and
excellence to fill Seat G.
Sincerely,
Sandra White
PO Box 130
Talkeetna AK 99676
April 1, 2008
George Troxel
Matanuska – Susitna School District
501 N. Gulkana
Palmer AK 99645
Dear Mr. Troxel,
This letter is to serve as notice of my
resignation from the Matanuska Susitna
School Board Seat G, effective April 3, 2008.
As you are well aware I have experienced a
recent family crisis and, after introspection,
have come to the realization that I will be
unable to devote the personal time needed
for the position of School Board Member.
To do otherwise would be an injustice to the
Board, the community, and to my family.
I truly appreciate your support and the hard
work of everyone at the school district. I am
continually impressed with the
professionalism and the determination to
succeed with all students that is
demonstrated by you and the dynamic team
you have assembled.
Serving on the School Board has been an
enriching experience. I have done my best
to be a valuable contributor during my short
term and I have high hopes that you will
seek out and find someone with passion for
education and a commitment to truth and
excellence to fill Seat G.
Sincerely,
Sandra White
PO Box 130
Talkeetna AK 99676
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