BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - The Bloomfield School Board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to appoint Vince Lockhart as the new board, filling a vacancy left when Don Lafferty resigned from the board. Three candidates applied for the position and were interviewed at the regular meeting of the board held Oct. 11. The three were Lockhart, April Bond and James Dodd.
Board President Bill Robison set the tone for the meeting when he said, "This is a process I'm not comfortable with." He went on to say that all three were "great candidates" and the decision was difficult.
Board Member David Cooper also said it was "uncomfortable" to choose from among three qualified candidates and to do it in open session. He asked Superintendent Toni Hill if the board could look at changing the process for any vacancies that might come up in the future.
Hill said the process is the one recommended by the State School Board Association (SCABA). She said she was under the impression that it was required by the state Sunshine Law, but was not certain.
Cooper said he was appointed several years ago to fill a vacancy, and it was not done through an open interview process.
Board Member David Battles said he also was appointed, but it was done through an interview process. That appointment was later than Cooper's.
Board Member Trevor Pulley suggested that maybe the Sunshine Law had been changed to make appointments to the board in open session.
Hill said she would check with legal representatives with the SCBA to see what options there were for appointing a board member to fill a vacancy. She said she would bring it back to the board to see if they wanted to make changes to the procedure.
Robison again stated that it was a difficult decision, and the difference between the candidates was "splitting hairs" in terms of making a choice.
"I am concerned with board members who have family on the staff," said Cooper.
He said his concern was that that adding another board member with family that worked for the school district could make it difficult for the superintendent. He asked Hill if she had a preference for the appointment.
Hill said, "I can work with whomever the board chooses to appoint."
Board Member Ryan Mayo, who participated in the meeting through a conference call because of a job commitment, said he understood what Cooper was talking about in regards to family working for the district. He noted that he is one of those members. His wife is a counselor.
"It is difficult sometimes," said Mayo. "I try very hard to be objective in making board decisions."
Cooper responded, "You and Trevor (Pulley) do a good job of keeping a balance." (Pulley's wife is also employed by the district.)
Robison made a motion to appoint Lockhart. It passed 6-0 with Mayo voting by phone.
Robison urged the other candidates to consider running for a board position in a future election.
"I think it's great that we have this kind of interest," he said.
The unexpired term of Lafferty will appear on the April ballot next year, and a candidate will be elected for a two-year term. Two other three-year terms will also be on the ballot.
The only other business at the special meeting was the approval of a new kindergarten report card in the district.
Elementary Principal Sabrina Skaggs said the new grading system aligned with the national common core standards. She said it more accurately measures key components that have to be attained at the kindergarten level and is a "better reflection of what the student can actually do."
A question was asked about the grading system in the upper grades.
Hill said administration was still working on what changes would be made in terms of a report card for the upper grades.
The board approved the change in the kindergarten report card by a unanimous vote.
"This is a step in the right direction," said Skaggs.