SITKA SCHOOL DISTRICT www.sitkaschools.org 300 Kostrometinoff Sitka, 99835 Phone: (907) 747-8622 Fax: (907) 966-1260

RESOLUTION OF THE SITKA SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION

Resolution No. 2015-01 IN SUPPORT OF A ROAD TO THE EAST SIDE OF

WHEREAS, the Sitka School Board recognizes that students who take part in extracurricular activities do better in studies, have healthier self-esteem and have an easier time making friends, improving their social and interpersonal skills; and WHEREAS, extracurricular activities include all sports as well as student government, drama debate and forensics, art, music and world language; and WHEREAS, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (July 2010), there is a strong correlation between participation in extracurricular activities and decreased high school dropout rates, as well as students showing greater interest in class then students not actively involved in sports; and WHEREAS, without a road system to connect Southeast Alaska communities, the Alaska Marine Highway System is relied upon to provide safe, efficient and affordable transportation vital to student travel; and WHEREAS, the community of Sitka has the third largest population in the region, yet other communities in Southeast Alaska are receiving nearly daily service while Sitka receives almost none, severely restricting ridership to and from Sitka; and WHEREAS, an all-weather road from Sitka to the east side of Baranof Island would eliminate approximately 120 miles for ferry traffic between the east and west side of the island greatly reducing the substantial amount of school that Sitka’s students and coaching staff miss when traveling on the Alaska Marine Highway; and WHEREAS, the significantly higher cost of air travel, the only mode of transportation currently providing daily service, creates an economic hardship for low income families and unequitable opportunities for students, so much so that the Student Council’s number one concern is the cost of travel prohibiting students from participating in extracurricular activities. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Sitka School District does strongly urge the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to include not just an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and design of a road, but actual construction in the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall be effective immediately; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the members of the Sitka School Board are hereby authorized to take all action necessary to effect the foregoing resolution.

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Sitka Board in accordance with its organic documents at a meeting of the Sitka School Board held on September 10, 2014 and said resolution appears in the record of said meeting as set forth above.

Passed and Approved on September 10, 2014

______Lon D. Garrison, Board President

“Educating our children to realize their potential and contribute in a connected global society.”