School bond refinance
In what’s expected to be a tight money year, city finance director Jay Sweeney had some good news.
Sweeney told the assembly Tuesday night (3-13-12) that the city was eligible to refinance some of its outstanding general obligation bonds at a lower rate, from 5.25 percent to 4.5.
And while refinancing won’t make much of a dent on the city’s immediate budget crunch, the long-term benefit could be substantial.
“The difference is going to be about $250,000 in actual savings in interest. These bonds are funded by the extra one-percent seasonal sales tax. And so, as that ballot proposition was written a decade ago. As a result of lowering the interest rate, my calculation is that we would be able to sunset the seasonal sales tax one year earlier than what I currently forecast. Moving it backwards from 2023 to 2022.”
The bonds were approved by voters in 2004 and 2005 for the construction of the Performing Arts Center, and the replacement of the roofs on several school buildings.
Sitka has a total of six outstanding general obligation bonds – all for school projects. The remaining principal is $36,300,000.
The assembly voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing Sweeney to move ahead on the deal with the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank.
Brian Bickar joins Police & Fire
The assembly made some routine appointments to commissions and boards on Tuesday, and one not-so-routine appointment.
Sitka resident Brian Bickar was appointed to the Police and Fire Commission.
Assembly member Mike Reif said he had heard from members of the public expressing concerns about the prospect of Bickar’s appointment to Police and Fire.
In questioning the candidate, Reif tiptoed around the idea that Bickar might have an axe to grind with law enforcement in Sitka.
Reif – Obviously, your experience and history has some dealings with the Police and Fire Commission. Past business, and so forth, past practices. How do you think that plays in our selection process for you, or should play?
Bickar – I think a lifetime of involvement should be a benefit.
Assembly member Terry Blake referred to himself as “the new guy,” and said he lacked the history to understand the line of questioning. He asked Bickar to explain the public’s concerns with his appointment. Bickar answered only that he was concerned about his children and their ability to thrive in Sitka. He said that he wanted to encourage “positive growth” on the Police and Fire Commission.
The state’s public court records identify ten separate criminal misdemeanor cases involving the 48-year-old Bickar. He has been charged with harassment, reckless driving, DWI, driving while license revoked, violating conditions of release, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, two Fish & Wildlife misdemeanors, and hit-and-run.
Phyllis Hackett agreed Bickar’s experience might prove useful on the commission.
“I do believe that a person such as Mr. Bickar who has had experience with our police force here in town, that kind of experience would be really beneficial to the commission overall, and bring a valuable perspective that I suspect most of the people on the commission may not have firsthand.”
Mike Reif motioned to appoint Bickar for only one-year, rather than the full three-year term. The motion was defeated. The assembly then voted 5-0, with Mayor Westover and Pete Esquiro absent, to appoint Bickar for three years.
Today’s Classroom
And finally, the assembly began Tuesday night’s meeting with a 30-minute lesson on the Promethean board, the interactive white board already in use in many Sitka classrooms.
Second-grade teachers Cindy Duncan and Kelly Buxton, and assistant superintendant Mary Wagner, distributed a number of Promethean input devices around the room, and then polled audience members on their views of education.
The results were compiled instantly on the boards. Most audience members favored education that was not just speaking, or reading, or group activity – but engaged a variety of senses.
Buxton and Duncan are two of Sitka’s in-house Promethean trainers. Duncan was a particular fan.
“So I’ve had a Promethean Activ board in my classroom for five years, and I love it. I use it all the time and I have seen a big change in grades over the course of those five years, and the engagement of students”
Duncan explained how students could use the interactive features of the board to take math tests, play educational videos, and even track the Iditarod mushers in real time on a map of Alaska.
School board member Tim Fulton organized the presentation. He emphasized that the technology was not intended to replace teachers. He said it was about “sharing information.”
The district will send its budget to the assembly in May for final approval. It could contain around $450,000 in technology expenses. During two recent budget worksessions some teachers – and at least one student – had reservations about the amount of money allocated to technology.
