Cass board interviews four candidates

Published 2:04 pm Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Cassopolis Board of Education interviewed four of its five school board candidates at a special meeting held at Squires Education Center Monday night.

The board is looking to fill the vacancy created when Jeremy Carlisle resigned Jan. 8.

Candidates had until noon Monday to apply for the vacancy. John Bright, Deb Deubner, Bianca May, Justin Anderson and Nancy Wilson all submitted applications.

Wilson did not attend Monday night’s meeting. She did not receive an interview from the board.

Each candidate was asked seven questions by the board, which were read by Cindy Martynowicz, board secretary. Among them were what are the top three reasons why they wanted to be a board member and if they had any experience dealing with budgets?

The position would fill the vacancy from February 2013 to November 2014 when the general election is held.

The candidate who is elected will complete the term, which runs through November 2016.

Action on the board vacancy will be taken at the regular meeting Monday. The new board member will be sworn into office at that time.

In other business, the board swore in newest member Lori Whitmyer. Superintendent Tracy Hertsel explained to the audience that board members were traditionally sworn in at the July meeting, but the switch in election dates to the fall, they are now going to be sworn in at a January meeting.

The board also elected Jason Pompey as its vice president.  It also reinstated one student and expelled another.