By KATHERINE PETERSEN
In less than three weeks, three members of the high school district board will appoint someone to fill the vacancy left by former trustee Andrew Springmeyer.
At its Feb. 11 meeting, the board decided to make an appointment rather than wait until the November elections to fill the position, which opened up after Springmeyer was kicked off the board for missing three straight months' worth of meetings.
One factor prompting trustees to make the appointment rather than hold a special election stems from an illness that befell board member Frank Pelkey. Since Pelkey will be missing meetings for an undetermined amount of time, trustees worried that the board could not function if someone else fell ill or was absent. The board requires a minimum of three members to take action.
The school board is scheduled to announce finalists for the position at its March 4 meeting. Each member will read through the applications individually, and candidates will be interviewed if at least two board members have an interest in their applications.
The public can listen to candidate interviews March 6 at 5 p.m.,and give public input to the board afterward. Residents may also submit questions for candidates to Superintendent Mary Panucci.
The appointee must win the vote of all three board members to move into office. The board's selection will be announced March 11.
Karin Costa, Otis Halliday, Mike Henningsen and Cindy Pocius are four contenders who have shown interest in the position to date.
Board President Randy Okamura believes the board will receive between five and 15 applications. Making an appointment will be difficult, he said.
"I know some of these people personally, so it will be a tough choice. They are all good people who are active in the district. Everyone in their own right has a legitimate reason for applying," he said.
Okamura said trustees will miss having a fourth voice to help make their decision.
Applicants can pick up packets at the high school district's administration building, 589 W. Fremont Ave. Applications must be returned in person by Feb. 28.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and registered to vote in the Fremont Union High School District.
If district employees apply, they must give up their employment during their tenure on the board.
Applicants must have time to play an active role on the board and must sign a conflict-of-interest statement in which any potential conflicts are revealed to the board.
Board members are requiring that applicants submit letters of recommendation.
A special election would have cost the district $269,000.
To hold a special election in June, the trustees would have had to call it before their Feb. 4 meeting.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, February 19, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.