The city of Germantown is searching for a new Board of Education member following the departure of Dr. Daniel Chatham, and the community is not short on candidates. According to an official announcement on the City of Germantown's website, a diverse mix of 14 residents have tossed their hats in the ring for the opportunity to fill the vacant Board of Education Position 2 seat and serve the remainder of Dr. Chatham's two-year term.
This group of hopefuls represents a wide swath of backgrounds and experiences. Those who applied are Leanne Bailey, Linola "Gail" Braddock, Benny "Kyle" Eaton, Scotty Hendricks, Seth Karol, Manjit Kaur, Paul Koltnow, Alex McCulloch, Patrick "Neal" Oldham, Elizabeth "Beth" Robbins, Carrie Schween, Dr. Jon Stencel, Kevin Trice, and Joy Williams, the next steps for these candidates include a round of interviews with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen set to unfold over the week beginning Monday, January 6 and wrapping up on Friday, January 10.
The process for selecting who will be interviewed from this hopeful consortium will become clearer by the end of the first week of the new year, as the BMA has committed to releasing the shortlist of interviewees by Friday, January 3. Citizens of Germantown and those following the educational governance scene will soon be able to piece together who moves ahead in the race.
Looking ahead, the final decision, i.e., who will sit on the Board and be the voice for educational affairs, is scheduled to come through a majority vote during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on Monday, January 27. This commitment not only encapsulates the democratic process but also the vested interests of Germantown's stakeholders in the vitality and direction of their schools.
