PITTSBORO -- Residents interested in serving on the Chatham County Board of Education to complete the unexpired term of the late Gerald Totten will be able to apply for the vacant District 4 seat Jan. 4.
Totten, a career Marine prior to leaving the service, died Dec. 2 following a bout with cancer. He began his term on the school board in 2006, and was known as a concerned and inquisitive member.
"He earned the respect of the public because he truly cared about what happened to our schools. He will be missed by many," Kathie Russell, chairwoman of the Board of Education, said at the time of Totten's death.
The school board will name a person who resides in District 4 to fill his unexpired term, and announced Monday it will take applications between Jan. 4 and 22. Forms will be available to the public at the central office in Pittsboro and on the school district Web site at www.chatham.k12.nc.us under "Board of Education."
Below is information about the process:
- Provide application and procedures for interested parties (applicant must reside in District 4.
- Set deadline to accept applications.
- Conduct Board of Education meeting to review applications.
- Potentially interview a candidate or candidates.
- Make selection (majority vote).
- Conduct orientation for newly selected board member.
- Administer oath of office to new board member.
The timeline for achieving that process is:
- Jan. 4 -- Applications available at the central office and on the district Web site.
- Jan. 22 -- Application deadline.
- Jan. 25 -- Special Board of Education meeting to review applications at 5:45 p.m.
- Feb. 1 -- Possible interviews at Board of Education work session.
Other members of the five-member board are David Hamm, Deb McManus, Flint O'Brien and Russell.
