Columbia Heights School Board Proposes Adding a 7th Member - Sept. 27, 6:15 p.m.

For those that have been following the Columbia Heights School Board, you may have noticed that at every meeting they have a vote for approving a chair of the board.  So far, this has ended up in a 3-3 tie since the beginning of the year.  It has been proposed that to eliminate a 3-3 tie that the school board add a seventh member.  A Public Hearing about this proposal has been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6:15 p.m. in the Family Center Community Room, 1440 49th Ave. NE.

Since there is no 'official' chair, you would think that business would not be able to get done.  Yet, the board just approved a reduction in its levy for 2012.  That is a major accomplishment for a board that has no chair especially in a year that the city, state, and federal government will be increasing taxes.

Adding a seventh member would increase costs.  Those costs are not just salary but you need to include per diem, travel expenses, and conference costs, just to start. 

All a 3-3 vote means is that the vote results in a 'no' vote.  Most decisions made by the board are non-controversial and rarely do they end up with a 3-3 vote.  There are many school boards that have 6 members and have been able to survive that way for years.  Columbia Heights is one of those. 

If you have an opinion on this, please attend this meeting and give the School Board your input.