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Pana School Board seeks member applications

(PANA) — The reorganizational meeting of the Pana School Board was held Wednesday night in the Pana High School Library. AnneDorn, left, took the oath of office for a four-year term during the meeting, having been re-elected to the Board in the Apr. 4 Consolidated General Election. The new President of the Board is Kyle Anderson, right. he was unanimously elected during the meeting as well. Dorn was elected secretary. The Board is holding a special meeting on Monday, May 8, to interview candidates and appoint three people to the Board due to the vacancies which need to be filled.

Tom Latonis Breeze-Courier Writer

(PANA) — At the reorganizational meeting of the Pana School Board on Wednesday evening, the four members decided to ask the public for applications to fill the three unoccupied seats on the Board.

Applications will be available on the Pana School District website (panaschools. com). Those applications will be accepted until Friday, May 5, 2023. The Board will hold a special meeting on Monday night, May 8, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. to interview potential candidates. They also plan to appoint the three new members following the interview process.

Requirements for the office include being at least 18 years of age and a US citizen and have lived within the school district for at least one year.

Because of limits placed on the number of members who may serve from each township within the district, not Pana Township resident can be assigned to the Board. There are currently three Pana Township residents on the Board and three is the limit.

The people selected to serve on the Board will serve for unexpired two-year terms, meaning if they wish to retain the seat, they will have to run for the office in the April 2025 Consolidated General Election.

A legal notice will appear in Friday’s Breeze-Courier with the complete list of qualifications.

During the recent School Board Election on Apr. 4, only one candidate was elected, but there were four seats available. Anne Dorn, an incumbent member of the Board was re-elected. She assumed her oath of office during the concluding meeting of the old Board.

Retiring members honored on Wednesday evening prior to the reorganizational meeting were Doug Kirkbride, James Moon and Craig Deere. A reception for them was held in the Panthers Den of Pana High School.

Once the old Board had adjourned “Sin Die,” member Kyle Anderson was elected President pro tem of the board and Bridgett Heinrich was named Secretary pro tem for the reorganizational meeting.

During that meeting, Anderson was elected president; Mark Beyers, vice- president; Dorn, secretary; and Nicole Blodgett, treasurer.

The Board approved the following employment recommendations by Superintendent Jason Bauer: Employ – Brenna Dameris, substitute teacher; Daniel Herrera, high school English teacher; Debra Laker, high school cashier; and Lacy Hutchinson, high school football cheerleader coach. Resignation – Katherine Goethals, seventh grade general Math teacher and Timothy Miller, high school freshmen girls basketball coach. Robert Pumphery, high school Social Studies and Driver’s Ed teacher, withdrew his resignation from those positions.

The Board tabled action on establishing meeting dates and times for the Board and appointment of committees until there is a full seven- person Board seated.

The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.

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