It appears that the Department of Labor has not been notified of the Board's plan for honoring their commitment to employees regarding severance and annual leave. I had heard that the Board approved a plan at their September meeting (although I have not seen Board minutes). When speaking with Department folks on Friday, I was told that they had not heard of the Board's decision.
The original plan called for paying staff and faculty by tenure; the folks who had been at SJ the longest would be paid first, etc. Informing the Department of Labor of this plan's approval would start the clock, so instead, SJ has kept quiet. Which means that compensation owed to folks (many of whom remain unemployed) is not forthcoming.
The President has stated that they must first sell some property before funds are available.
Former employees have received notice of the amount to be paid, but not any sort of reasonable time frame in which to be paid. This needs to change.
To date, the Department of Labor has not received any former wage claims against the College. Perhaps this should change also.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Student records on the move
The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is on campus this week to take control over student records. Both electronic data and paper copies have been collected and will be sent to Juneau. Students requesting transcripts can still call the Registrar at this time, but it is uncertain for how long. ACPE can be contacted through their website, for more information.
Assembly Meeting Outcomes
The city assembly met last night to address several issues related to SJ: Hames PE Center, Stratton Library, Childcare Center, and outstanding utility payments. The house was packed with supporters of a plan to keep open Hames open for a year, while community planners develop a long term solution.
In the end:
Hames received continued support through November 30th. Far from a year of support, the assembly intends to use this time to iron out lease issues to pave the way for a year-long commitment.
The Assembly stayed with the original plan of requiring a promissory note on the $450k SJ owes them for unpaid utilities. SJ had asked for 5%, no payments for a year, one lump sum after one year. The city kept with a ten year, 12% note.
Testimony was given by members of the public regarding Stratton Libray's archives, the Childcare Center's plan to stay open, and support for Hames.
My impression:
The city and Sheldon Jackson will struggle to serve our community well unless they find more productive ways of working together. The assembly uses public meetings to criticize the College, and the College seems to withhold information pertinent to good decision-making. The public looks on and gets the impression that no one has their interests in mind. SJ and the city are on the hook if they fail to deliver.
I hope that Hames, Stratton, and the Childcare Center find new life with - or without - the city's involvement. They are valuable resources to our community.
In the end:
Hames received continued support through November 30th. Far from a year of support, the assembly intends to use this time to iron out lease issues to pave the way for a year-long commitment.
The Assembly stayed with the original plan of requiring a promissory note on the $450k SJ owes them for unpaid utilities. SJ had asked for 5%, no payments for a year, one lump sum after one year. The city kept with a ten year, 12% note.
Testimony was given by members of the public regarding Stratton Libray's archives, the Childcare Center's plan to stay open, and support for Hames.
My impression:
The city and Sheldon Jackson will struggle to serve our community well unless they find more productive ways of working together. The assembly uses public meetings to criticize the College, and the College seems to withhold information pertinent to good decision-making. The public looks on and gets the impression that no one has their interests in mind. SJ and the city are on the hook if they fail to deliver.
I hope that Hames, Stratton, and the Childcare Center find new life with - or without - the city's involvement. They are valuable resources to our community.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Tribal College Meeting
A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the potential of developing a tribal college in Sitka. The announcement was made by Ted Wright, who was part of a group to lead this effort years ago, and who has received several calls since SJ's closure. The meeting is not necessarily about converting SJ to a tribal college, but to discuss the issue of a tribal college in general. The meeting will take place 6:00 - 7:30 PM Thursday, October 11 in the Maksoutoff Room of the Centennial Building.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Rumor Mill
"There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true." ~Winston Churchill
Lately, I've been hearing a lot of rumors. It's next to impossible to know which, if any, hint at the truth. All are somewhat plausible, and none are beneath the current situation the College finds itself in.
I've listed them below. Act responsibly once you've read them. Don't spread them like wildfire. Instead, work to confirm them or dispose of them.
1. Cruise line to purchase portion of SJ property for lightering facility. Rumor has it, that an agency has made an offer. Reliability: who knows?
2. $1.2 million grant lacks the matching funds needed to keep it. Reliability: Possible, since the College is in financial crisis.
3. City gets better position on lien because of some change / oversight by SJ lender. Reliability: Could be, since some reference was made to this during last Assembly Meeting.
The truth: There'd be less rumors if the College would open up lines of communication. The website hasn't changed for over a month, Board minutes are unavailable, phones go unanswered regularly, messages aren't returned.
Lately, I've been hearing a lot of rumors. It's next to impossible to know which, if any, hint at the truth. All are somewhat plausible, and none are beneath the current situation the College finds itself in.
I've listed them below. Act responsibly once you've read them. Don't spread them like wildfire. Instead, work to confirm them or dispose of them.
1. Cruise line to purchase portion of SJ property for lightering facility. Rumor has it, that an agency has made an offer. Reliability: who knows?
2. $1.2 million grant lacks the matching funds needed to keep it. Reliability: Possible, since the College is in financial crisis.
3. City gets better position on lien because of some change / oversight by SJ lender. Reliability: Could be, since some reference was made to this during last Assembly Meeting.
The truth: There'd be less rumors if the College would open up lines of communication. The website hasn't changed for over a month, Board minutes are unavailable, phones go unanswered regularly, messages aren't returned.
Stratton Library Story on Raven Radio
I had originally missed this story on Raven Radio regarding the situation at Stratton. Thursday's assembly meeting will also address Stratton's future. Consider listening to this story as homework for tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
My recent letter to the editor RE: Assembly Action
Submitted Tuesday, October 2nd, the day of municipal elections:
Congratulations to the recently elected Assembly and School Board candidates. While I’m sure that your plates are quite full, I hope that you’ll invest both time and energy in addressing the closure of Sheldon Jackson College and its impact on our community. To date, several faculty and staff remain unemployed, and many have left Sitka. The 100 students usually enrolled have also gone on to other schools, or have dropped out completely. Each one of these folks, in addition to being employed or enrolled at the College, were also taxpayers, customers, renters, homeowners, volunteers, and valued members of our community. What has their loss cost our community, now that they are gone? What can be done to support those who remain, and what is the city’s role in all of this?
I believe that the city has an opportunity, and an obligation, to respond in a meaningful way to these issues. I am counting on you to attend and participate in this Thursday’s assembly special session, where these issues will be addressed. To ignore the needs of those left in the wake of Sheldon Jackson’s closure, and to fail to address the potential loss of valued community resources previously provided by the College, is to fail those who elected you to serve their interests and the best interests of our community. Seize this opportunity to lead our community during this crucial time of need.
Sincerely,
Chris Bryner
Sitka, AK
Congratulations to the recently elected Assembly and School Board candidates. While I’m sure that your plates are quite full, I hope that you’ll invest both time and energy in addressing the closure of Sheldon Jackson College and its impact on our community. To date, several faculty and staff remain unemployed, and many have left Sitka. The 100 students usually enrolled have also gone on to other schools, or have dropped out completely. Each one of these folks, in addition to being employed or enrolled at the College, were also taxpayers, customers, renters, homeowners, volunteers, and valued members of our community. What has their loss cost our community, now that they are gone? What can be done to support those who remain, and what is the city’s role in all of this?
I believe that the city has an opportunity, and an obligation, to respond in a meaningful way to these issues. I am counting on you to attend and participate in this Thursday’s assembly special session, where these issues will be addressed. To ignore the needs of those left in the wake of Sheldon Jackson’s closure, and to fail to address the potential loss of valued community resources previously provided by the College, is to fail those who elected you to serve their interests and the best interests of our community. Seize this opportunity to lead our community during this crucial time of need.
Sincerely,
Chris Bryner
Sitka, AK
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