Applications being accepted for open school board seat

The Ann Arbor Board of Education is seeking applicants to fill a board position vacated  with the resignation this week of longtime trustee Randy Friedman.

An individual wishing to serve on the school board must be: a citizen of the United States; 18 years of age or older; a resident of the Ann Arbor Public Schools district for at least 30 days; and a registered voter.

The district has set the following selection process:

• Interested parties should submit a written application to: Amy Osinski, Ann Arbor Board of Education, 2555 South State St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. Applicants also may fax their application to 734-994-2414 or e-mail it.

• Applications must contain: a resume which includes home address, telephone, and (if applicable) e-mail address; a letter of intent of no more than two pages detailing his or her qualifications for board service along with three references; and two letters of recommendation addressed to the Board of Education. The deadline for receipt of applications is 4 p.m. Friday, April 23.

• The board will interview new applicants at a special board meeting on Thursday, May 6 and will hear oral statements from all candidates at the regular May 12 Board of Education meeting at the Ann Arbor District Library beginning at 7 p.m. The board is expected to appoint and seat a candidate that evening. The selected candidate will serve through December 2010.

• Candidates who were considered for the most recent board opening on March 10 need only submit an email expressing interest in reapplying for the current open position. These candidates will not be required to formally interview, but will need to present a statement to the Board on May 12.

In addition, the community is invited to submit questions to be considered during the interview process. E-mail questions or send them to the above address no later than 4 p.m., Monday, April 19.

Friedman, who was serving as board treasurer, resigned his seat effective April 12 citing personal reasons. His was the third seat to open on the Ann Arbor board in recent months. Trustees Helen Gates-Bryant and Adam Hollier also resigned their seats and were replaced by trustees Simone Lightfoot and Christine Stead, respectively.

Voters will next go to the polls to elect board members in November, when five of the board’s seven seats will be open including those of the trustee to be appointed in May as well as trustees Lightfoot, Stead and Susan Baskett as well as board President Deb Mexicotte.  The deadline for filing to run for one of the seats is Aug. 10, 2010. Visit the Washtenaw County Clerk’s election page for information.

The Ann Arbor school board voted last December to move traditional school elections from May to November in a money-saving move. All board terms now run in a January through December calendar year.

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