School board elects new officers
Longtime school board head Janice Marshall is out as the board’s chair, replaced by Kim Sorenson. Trustees said Marshall provided consistency and stability, but they wanted a shake-up in leadership.
The Albany County School Board has a new head. Trustee, and now Chair, Kim Sorenson ascended to the board’s leadership role following a split vote by the trustees Wednesday.
Trustee Janice Marshall, who was first elected to the board in 2006, had served as chair through the first two years of the pandemic — a period that saw several tumultuous meetings disrupted by anti-mask agitators.
Now, Sorenson is tasked with running school board meetings and ensuring they remain orderly. He comes to the role with changes in mind.
“I can’t say I really have issues with the way anything’s been done by Chairman Marshall,” he said to the rest of the board on Wednesday. “I do, like anyone, have some ideas I think could be done differently.”
Sorenson said he wants to pay closer attention to the district’s financial reserves, better align the board’s own goals with the goals it sets for the wider district, and give trustees more time to consider the issues they vote on.
“Some of the most important items we have ever voted on since I’ve been on the board have hit us for the first time that night,” he said. “I don’t know about y’all, but I like to think things through and ask questions and know what exactly it is I’m voting on — or the ramifications and positive aspects of it.”
Wednesday was the first regular meeting of the board established by the 2022 general election. Despite seven seats being on the ballot, the board only turned over two trustees — Alex Krassin and Carrie Murthy, who each ran for an open seat. Overwhelmingly, voters chose to keep the school district leadership they were familiar with.
Sorenson became chair of the board with a 5-3 vote. Trustees Gosar and Beth Bear voted with Marshall to keep her in the leadership role.
Trustee Bear — having served for a year as vice-chair — said even one year in an officer position would not adequately prepare a trustee to take on the role of chair. Sorenson has never served as vice-chair.
“I do have some concerns about not having any experience as an officer and then taking a chair role,” Bear said.
Many of the trustees who voted against Marshall nevertheless voiced appreciation for the guidance she has provided, saying only that a “mix-up” in leadership would strengthen the board.
Trustee Nate Martin said longtime, consistent leadership provides stability. But stability can make newer trustees complacent.
“Shifting around goals is good because then you don’t get caught in a rut,” he said. “I’m inclined to mix things up a bit. It’s not a referendum on leadership.”
The board’s three other officer positions were elected unanimously. Trustee Bear was renamed Vice-Chair; Trustee Marshall was named Clerk (after Trustee Steve Gosar rejected a proffered nomination); Trustee Martin was named Treasurer.
Martin was also named as the board’s liaison to the Wyoming School Board Association, inheriting the role from Marshall.