A proposal to hold school board meetings at locations throughout the district was met with a cool reception at Tuesday night's meeting of the Blaine County School District board of trustees.
The proposal was made by newly elected Trustee Steve Guthrie, who suggested monthly board meetings have "outgrown the meeting room" at the district office on Bullion Street in Hailey.
"I've seen people stacked up out in the halls," said Guthrie, who suggested that monthly board meetings be rotated at district schools.
Trustee Mari Beth Matthews didn't agree.
"This facility works well," Matthews said. "I know you campaigned on that issue and your supporters were here to cheer you on at your first board meeting, but now it's just the same old gang."
Matthews was referring to the July meeting when Guthrie and newly elected Trustee Paul Bates assumed their board seats. Attendees at Tuesday's meeting were mainly district employees and other people who were there to provide various presentations to the board.
Board Chairwoman Julie Dahlgren said the board rotated meetings "about 10 years ago" at schools in the district but that the meetings were not well attended by the public. Furthermore, she said administrative staff was burdened with constantly moving equipment, sometimes late at night after long meetings.
"Setting up a meeting is not easy," Dahlgren said.
District Business Manager Mike Chatterton said rotating meetings caused "confusion over where and when meetings were being held."
The board took no action on Guthrie's proposal. Matthews said she might be agreeable to holding a board meeting once a year at Carey School.
"You can hold them all in Carey," said Carey School Principal John Peck.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Steve Guthrie
