The Westosha Central High School Board has decided to leave the Salem board seat vacant until the voters can fill it in the April 2016 election.
The district had asked for applicants to fill the seat. Two interested members of the public were interviewed Tuesday. They were Jack Niccolai and Karen Shoopman.
Shoopman was described in the press release on the decision as a “newcomer to the Salem community (who) has been very active with various schools her children have attended, demonstrating great success in helping the schools raise significant funds to support the school.”
Niccolai is a the retired, long-time band director at Salem School. He had served on the Salem School Board from 2012 until May of this year when he resigned. In his resignation statement he said, in part, “…due to circumstances beyond my control, I am forced to re-evaluate my place on this board. I realize that I cannot devote the time and energy this seat requires. I am therefore resigning from my board position after this meeting is adjourned. I am asking that my privacy be respected in this matter.” He had just been re-elected in April 2015.
Faced with two candidates with “significant qualifications,” the board deliberated on the choices and opted to not appoint either but let the seat be filled by election in 2016, the press release said.
The vacancy was created when Mary Anderson resigned after moving out of Salem.
