BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
The Stafford County School Board did not name a new member Wednesday night, but it did winnow the field of candidates from five to two.
The School Board interviewed the five applicants for the vacant Garrisonville District seat Wednesday night, but ended the evening without a decision.
Board members instead invited two candidates—Nanette Kidby and Alvin Martin—to return Tuesday night for more interviews.
“The Garrisonville community should be proud,” said School Board Chairwoman Stephanie Johnson. “Five candidates came out for the position. I think that is an incredible statement for that district, and they’re all very supportive of education.”
The Garrisonville District seat has been vacant since Jan. 10, when Ty Schieber left to serve on the Stafford Board of Supervisors.
The School Board has until the end of the month to name his successor, or a circuit judge will appoint someone.
The School Board invited registered voters in the Garrisonville District to apply, and five people submitted applications.
Kidby
Martin
Tonya Harris
Sylvester Mitchell
Laura Sellers.
The applicants brought a range of experiences to the table and included a former Stafford School Board member (Kidby), a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer (Martin), a charter-school principal, a security specialist and a research analyst.
Wednesday night, each candidate answered six questions focusing on experience, visions for Stafford County’s education system, ways to deal with the challenges schools face and the role of the School Board.
In the interviews, most applicants mentioned that schools face mounting pressure to provide quality education while purse strings seem to be tightening. All said that the School Board should be responsive to the community and should be open and transparent.
“We need to make sure the public and the community know what we’re doing and why we’re doing it,” said Kidby, a retired educator who has served on the Stafford School Board before.
The School Board will interview Kidby and Martin Tuesday night after a budget work session and before the regularly scheduled meeting.
The interviews should begin about 6:15 p.m. and will be open to the public.
The board members hope to then select a candidate in a closed session during the regular meeting.
Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973 aumble@freelancestar.com
