Jesse Binns, Lucienne Lafontant-Lee and Lori Whitmyer were interviewed for the vacant seat on the Cassopolis Board of Education Monday.

The three are vying for the seat created by the resignation of Jason Pompey last month due to health issues.

Whitmyer is a former board member. She resigned her position in May of 2014 for personal reasons.

Whitmyer is wishing to return to the board because of her children. She said she is highly involved with the community and is invested in Cassopolis as a business owner.

The candidates were asked in random order five questions, which included a brief description of themselves, the top three reasons they wanted to be a board member and what they believed were the most pressing issues in increasing student achievement.

They were also asked how knowledgeable they were on recent board business, what experience they had with budget planning, if they were capable of making difficult staffing and financial decisions and what the top three priorities are that are facing the board.

“Academic, budget, general operations of the school, what cuts can be made and making the school operate with lower funding,” Binns answered.

“Academics and funding, but also I think morale and community support,” Lee said. “I think changes should be taken to the community to get their support.”

“Enrollment, retaining those children enrolled and providing a great academic and safe environment for our kids,” Whitmyer answered.

All had experience in some form of budget planning — Binns with the Michigan State Police, Whitmyer as a former board member and Lee, from her work at Patriot Homes.

On their top three reasons why they wanted to be on the board, Lee felt the quality of education was very important and wanted Cassopolis to excel and be competitive against neighboring districts.

She also felt it was important to get people involved with the school.

Binns, although he has no children, wants to be a part of building the future of the schools. He also felt that how the district spends its money is important  as well as every day academics.

The board is holding a special meeting tonight to select the new member.

In other business, the board:

• Received the first reading of NEILA, volume 28, No. 2

• Approved the overnight trip to Howell for the Cassopolis Robotics Team

• Approved the hiring of Steven Mammel as a secondary level math and physics teacher; Kerrie Bass, Rachele Ward and Teresa Wellman as FFA coaches; Steve Green as boys varsity track coach

• Accepted the donation of Valerie Minnix-Pompa in the amounts of $1,500 for the robotics team and $1,500 for the Sam Adams Elementary library

• Approved revisions to the 2014-15 budget for the general fund, food service fund, sinking fund and debt services fund

• Awarded its audit services to Abraham & Gaffney based on a base audit and two single audits per year at the costs of $15,000 (2015), $15,500 (2016), $16,000 (2017) and $16,500 (2018)

Superintendent Tracy Hertsel in his report announced that the district is currently having issues with its website, but he hoped to have it repaired soon.

The district will be closed Monday for President’s Day.