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ASD committee says no-shows for ticketed events should be charged; debate on candidate use of school property to continue
Summary
The governance committee agreed to enforce existing bylaws requiring board members to pay for no-show ticketed events and asked staff to flag ticket costs in invitations; the committee also flagged policy language about candidate use of school facilities and photography for future discussion.
The Anchorage School District Governance Committee reviewed board bylaws on community events and RSVP behavior and discussed campaign-related use of school property during its April 24 meeting.
Committee members said some board members have RSVPed for ticketed events and cancelled at the last minute, leaving the district unable to recoup costs. “If you agreed to go…and you didn't show up…and there wasn't some sort of arrangement…Do we wanna have that accountability measure?” the governance chair asked, noting the district’s fiscal constraints.
No board member objected to enforcing the existing bylaw requiring payment for ticketed no-shows. Member Wilson suggested invitations should clearly note when an RSVP carries a cost so board members are not surprised. Administration volunteered to include cost information in invitation emails going forward.
Separately, committee members flagged a related concern about how the district applies facility-use restrictions to candidates and campaign materials. Member Donnelly (not present) had previously raised questions about whether the policy was being used to prohibit photos or videos of public school buildings during campaigns and whether the district can regulate a candidate’s use of such images. A committee member noted legal distinctions between disciplining employees and regulating nonemployees and recommended the committee discuss campaign-use language at a future meeting or retreat. “I don't think this is the right policy for that…that may be a separate conversation,” the superintendent said.
The committee took no punitive action but agreed to enforce the bylaw going forward, asked administration to include ticket-cost flags in invitation notices and to place the candidate/facility-use question on a future agenda for fuller legal review.
