South Range to check with lawyer about appointment

By ROBERT CONNELLY

rconnelly@vindy.com

NORTH LIMA

South Range Board of Education officials are checking with their lawyer today to see if an appointment to a board vacancy will stand.

At its meeting Monday night, the board unanimously appointed Amy White to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Bruce Zinz for personal reasons. White will serve for the rest of this calendar year. The position will be on the November ballot for a two-year term.

Resident Richard Ferenchak asked the board why they violated its policy and did not interview every candidate who expressed interest.

Board President Ralph Wince said they received five applications — a sixth one was received late — and of those five applicants, two were interviewed.

South Range schools’ bylaws, however, available through the school’s website, state, “The board shall interview all interested candidates to ascertain their qualifications.” Earlier in the bylaws, shall is defined as “when an action by the board or its designee is required.”

Wince said late Monday he took responsibility for the situation, and that the school district would consult its lawyer on the next step. Wince said each board member ranked the applicants who expressed interest, and then Wince talked to each applicant individually on the phone.

A board meeting took place last week, and board members adjourned to an executive session to discuss the appointment.

“We missed it,” Wince said. “Did I miss the mark slightly on it? I guess I did.”

In another matter, the board approved putting out bids on a new bus. Superintendent Dennis Dunham said the move did not mean that they would purchase a bus, saying it “gives us an opportunity to see what’s out there.”

Two public hearings took place on staff seeking to retire and be rehired. They are Sandy Toy, an elementary teacher, and Daniel Yeagley, a math teacher and football coach. There were no comments specifically about those two, but residents had questions about the retire/rehire program.

Wince said the benefit to the district was South Range would be getting experienced teachers at a starting wage.