For Bret Swanson, getting onto the Rapid City School board was as easy as filling out some paperwork and gathering a couple dozen signatures. The hassle-free process was great, he said - but unfortunate.

"It's not healthy for the system to have no competition or such a lack of interest," he said.

This month, Swanson replaced Eric Abrahamson, and no one was more disappointed by the lack of interest than Abrahamson, who had encouraged Swanson and a number of people to run for his seat.

"When I found out the process was relatively simple, I was sure I had competition," Swanson said. "I was positive."

But he didn't, and his slide into the school board seat highlights a disappointing trend, Abrahamson said.

With Abrahamson off the board, Wes Storm is the only one of seven board members that was voted onto the board in the past election. Everyone else ran uncontested races, and for several of them, it wasn't their first.

Three of the seven districts have had only one election in the past 12 or 13 years.

In board president Sheryl Kirkeby's district, there has not been a contested race since 1994.

Which means people in that district who had a senior graduating from high school this year have not had the opportunity to vote in a school board election since their child was in kindergarten, Abrahamson said,

It's unfortunate for several reasons, Storm said.

First, candidates running unopposed don't have to campaign.

"When you don't have to campaign and say what you want to do, nobody questions it," he said.

It also changes the culture of the board, Abrahamson said.

"If you don't have to go out and do door to door, if you don't have to campaign and debate the issues, the public doesn't know who you are, and so they're less likely to contact you when there are issues they're concerned about," he said. "The board becomes almost like a corporate board rather than a public board."

With a new uncontested candidate at the table, the majority could shift during voting, Swanson said.

"The reality that you come to really quickly on the board - as good as your ideas are, or what you agree with - they don't mean much without three other people," he said.

Qualified

Swanson, who teaches English at Black Hills State University and is married to North Middle School teacher Jackie Swanson, said he doesn't understand why people wouldn't want to be involved.

"Is there anything more important in our community than schools?" he asked. "I don't think so. Why would we be indifferent?"

Brian Aust, spokesman for the South Dakota Association of School Boards, said that question has been debated for years, as school boards are not the only form of government to experience little participation.

About 20 years ago, Aust said, researchers developed a theory that said low voter turnout means people are generally satisfied. People who support the idea see uncontested school-board elections as a stamp of approval for the boards and their superintendents.

It makes Kirkeby sad.

When her husband, Mark, served as a county commissioner, they almost needed a second phone line because of the number of constituents calling. That hasn't been her experience while on the school board. Until this year, when the district needed to make cuts, she rarely heard from people.

"It's disturbing to me," she said. "There's a lot of apathy when it comes to education."

Aust said another reason for the lack of candidates is that people are intimidated by the job of being a school-board member.

"People are uncertain about time constraints and don't feel qualified," he said. "It is tough work to get people to run on school boards. There are a lot of tough decisions to make and a lot of challenges in the school environment."

Abrahamson said the learning curve is steep, including learning about curriculum and pedagogy and labor contracts.

"But it's also incredibly rewarding," he said.

Kirkeby agreed.

"It's time-consuming being on the board; there's an awful lot that you have to know," she said.

Playing to each others' strengths helps, Abrahamson said. He admitted that managing schools' buildings has never been his strong suit.

"Which is why I'm glad (Doug) Kinniburgh serves," he said. "A good board has different people with different knowledge bases."

Recent controversy

With the board's recent cut of $2.7 million from next year's operating budget, it was no surprise that several board meetings were packed with community members. That illustrates a theory that people will get involved when they see a problem, Aust said.

"I don't view people as dissatisfied in the political process, because they do show up when there's a reason to show up," he said.

Rapid City community members came out of the woodwork during the budget-cutting process to share ideas, criticize and get involved. Swanson said more people might have run for seats held by Abrahamson or Leah Lutheran if it had all happened sooner.

By the time the budget crisis was disclosed, Swanson was in place, and no one challenged Lutheran.

Abrahamson said it is important for people to understand that being on the board involves a lot of work, but not expertise.

"The job of the board is to ask hard questions and get good answers," he said.

Kirkeby hopes people understand that in the future. She wouldn't mind a little competition when election time comes.

"That would be great," she said. "I would like to see more, as long as people are coming for the right reason. The only reason to be on the board is kids."

In his job, Aust said, he sees little regret for people who decide to run.

"It's refreshing when people jump and decide to make the leap ,and they find it's rewarding," he said.

There have been only two contested Rapid City School Board races in the last six election cycles.

Year Contested

1994 4 of 4

1995 2 of 2

1996 2 of 2

1997 2 of 3

1998 1 of 2

1999 2 of 2

2000 2 of 3

2001 2 of 3

2002 1 of 3

2003 0 of 4

2004 0 of 3

2005 1 of 2

2006 0 of 3

2007 1 of 2

2008 0 of 2

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com