418 



The basis for my opinion is simple, and factual. J am superintendent Of 

 the Southeast Island School District, which is a regional school district 

 operating In an area of about 20,000 square miles of what Is known as 

 the "unorganized borough" outside of large municipalities (n the 

 southern half of Southeast Alaska. The district operates schools in 

 nineteen communities, and transports children from an additional 

 community across the border to school in a larger adjacent Canadian 

 community. Our communities are logging, fishing, and subsistence 

 communities. Eleven have an economic base revolving largely around 

 logging. Of all the governmental units {or any other organization) 

 operating in this part of the state, I believe that we are uniquely 

 situated to have a view of this issue from several perspectives, as 

 opposed to only one. 



I would like to note the following; 



1. This district is comprised of most of the small communities in the 

 southern half of the Tongass National Forest. 



2. 50.5% of the Tongass National Forest is within school district 

 boundaries. This is a greater percentage of Tongass National Forest 

 land than that within the boundaries of any other Alaska governmental 

 unit. 



3. While some Of the communities are organized as second class cities 

 with limited powers, many are not. The school district is the only 

 governmental unit with a presence in each of the communities, and is in 

 fact the only organization- other than the state legislature itself- 

 whose representatives are elected from these communities on a 

 regional basis. 



4. As we are comprised of logging, fishing, and subsistence users of the 

 forest, this school district is in at least as good a position, if not in the 

 best position, to see various positions on this issue, as opposed to a 

 member of any industry group (whether It be timber or fishing), or a 

 group or individual representing a particular position. 



