News : Several express interest in V-S School Board vacancy

Eligible voters in District 1 are qualified to fill the vacancy on the VS School Board.

When the Vinton-Shellsburg School Board meets on May 16, they will begin the process of filling the vacancy on the seven-member board.

Since reading about the vacancy on the board, one person has written a letter to Superindentent Mary Jo Hainstock, and several others have spoken to other School Board members.

"We have received one letter of interest," said Hainstock. "And I know several others have visited with school board members. I anticipate we’ll have 4-5 people who may request to be appointed."

The board has 30 days from the resignation to either appoint someone or start the process for a special election.

Hainstock encourages anyone who is interested in serving to "write a letter to the board and give it to Larry Stroschein, Brenda Barkdoll or me."

The vacancy is in District 1 of the Vinton-Shellsburg School District, which includes the area that was part of the Vinton school district before the merger with Shellsburg in 1989. Any eligible voter in District 1 who is interested in serving is encouraged to contact district officials. Some board remembers are from specific districts, while others are in at-large positions.

School districts have historically had a hard time finding enough candidates for school board elections; in many districts, contested races are rare. School Board members meet once per month, and also participate in other activities and meetings dealing with the district budget and programs. Unlike other elected positions, school board members are not paid for their service.

The V-S board meets typically the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the board room in the administrative office area at the north end of the former Washigton building (the current VS Middle School). At times the board meets in other buildings in the district.