Making a first impression

By Sean Pearson
In any new job, it’s always important to make a good first impression on not only those who hired you, but also those you will be working with. And while the impact of any first impression is often relative to how far your rung is up the corporate ladder, even CEOs don’t get a second chance to make a good one.
Imagine stepping in to fill the shoes of someone who not only formerly served in your current position well, but was also well-liked and respected among colleagues and staff. Even if you have the capacity to adequately address a variety of agendas, successfully mediate between a number of polar opposite viewpoints, negotiate world peace and spin fireweed into gold, you don’t have a chance of living up to the standard set before you.
At least not for a very long time.
When former Kenai Peninsula Borough Superintendent of Schools Donna Peterson resigned earlier this year after 10 years at the helm of one of the largest school districts in the state, she took with her an enormous amount of experience and respect.
Stepping in to fill her shoes was then Assistant Superintendent Steve Atwater. And while it’s certainly too early to measure his performance in the position thus far, some of Atwater’s first steps in office seem a little questionable.
On Dec. 1, Atwater wrote a letter to the Board recommending they take action to approve relocating the school district office to provide employees with more work space.
Atwater pointed out that, “since the late 1980s, it has been recognized that the Borough Building is not an adequate work space for both the Borough and School District employees.”
He noted that two different studies had indicated that space allocation changes needed to be made, but each time, it was determined that the financial commitment of making such a change was not feasible.
For some reason, Atwater seems to think this is the year for the move.
According to Atwater’s memo, he told the Borough mayor in August that he was interested in relocating the district office after repeatedly encountering situations that either “limited the district’s ability to conduct business” or placed them in an “awkward situation regarding confidentiality.”
Soon thereafter, a joint committee of borough and district personnel examined a building on Binkley Street and determined that, with some upgrades, it would be adequate for the district.
“On Nov. 30, the district formally requested the borough consider purchasing this building so as to allow the district office to move there,” Atwater’s memo concluded.
Now, I don’t know if folks in Kenai and Soldotna experienced the same kind of tourist season we did in Homer, but it wasn’t really that pretty. So, while everyone else is pushing down the thermostat and putting on an extra sweater, the school district is out shopping for some new digs.
The district’s graphs for nearly all of the schools represented in this year’s projected enrollment indicate a gradual decline over the years. And, by their own projections, enrollment in KPBSD schools is expected to drop even more by 2011.
Why then, would we need an increase in space for district employees?
Come on. If you haven’t heard yet, we’re somewhere midstream in a recession. (Depending on whom you ask.)
Sorry your working quarters are a bit cramped, but we all have to make sacrifices sometimes. Gottschalks is empty. And so is Liquidation World. I hear partitions work wonders. At this point in time, it’s hard to justify the district’s request.

Sharing more Spirit
People come together every year to make this fundraiser work.
Some of us sit at a computer and complain about the problems of the world and the many things our communities lack. Others come in with their sleeves rolled up and the desire to serve their community on their minds.
Fran VanSandt and Shari Daugherty are two of those people.
Regardless of whether it’s been a bad year, economically, or a tough year personally, these two women continue to embody the true spirit of thankless giving and endless compassion.
So, amid your holiday reveling and enjoyment of all the season brings, keep in mind that there are those out there, hard at work to make the season better for others.
We all owe them gratitude for their efforts. Thank you for sharing your spirit, Fran and Shari, and all of your helpers.