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Schools
Eanes school board votes to appoint resigning member’s replacement
Thursday, June 18, 2009
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By Dane Anderson, Staff Writer
Eanes school board members approved a measure on a 4-2 vote Wednesday that calls for appointing a replacement for Gail King, who leaves with her family to move to Virginia by Aug. 1.Voting to appoint King’s replacement rather than hold a special election in November were Robert Durkee, Paul Stone, Ellen Balthazar and Mike Monnig. Board president Jim Strickland and Clint Sayers voted against the measure, with King abstaining.
“We have all been elected to this board,” Sayers said. “Some people believe that is the way people should become a member of the board. Then we have somebody the community selected rather than somebody we selected.”
Sayers pointed out that King would not be leaving until August, which would leave only 90 days with an unfilled seat before the possible November special election.
District superintendent Nola Wellman estimated the last election cost the district between $10,000 and $11,000 to hold. She said the cost of each election varied depending on how many other positions with other entities were being filled. Those participating split the cost of elections.
“I remind you Clint and the public that the seat will be filled by the public next May,” said board member Paul Stone. “We are talking about a timing issue and saving money.”
The board directed Wellman to post the opening on the board immediately. Letters of interest should be sent to board president Jim Strickland by July 31.
Strickland said he foresaw the remainder of the selection process to include developing a standardized application form with an essay part, interviewing and selection. Sayers said he thought all applicants should be interviewed. District attorney Bernadette Gonzalez said that all interviews should be held during public forum.
The board has 180 days from yesterday’s meeting to appoint a replacement school board member.
Hundreds of Eanes taxpayers voiced their support for the appointment of Sharman Reed to the Board of Trustees. Ellen Balthazar, Mike Monnig and Paul Stone made the choice apparently to discount the opinions and wishes of the voters. Can we at least have access to the completed applications of those who choose to submit them, or is that information going to be withheld from the public as well? When will the final decision be made? Open government…….denied.
The Eanes board missed a wonderful opportunity to save time, money and taxpayer angst last evening. Sharman Reed, well supported in our community, highly qualified and eager to serve on our school board, was not appointed despite the presence of a petition endorsing her appointment signed by hundreds of taxpayers. Simple question: What happened?
Only one person stepped up to run in the May 09 election — Sharman Reed. Any other “applications”for this vacated seat will surely come from those solicited by a school board that wants to protect the status quo. We don’t need a board member chosen by the board. Rather, we need a board member chosen by the people. Hundreds in our community believe the right person for the job is Sharman. And she wasn’t hand-picked by the board. That alone wins my vote.