Mason board revises rules on vacancy applications

7/28/2009

ERIE - Mason Consolidated school officials Monday night amended the district policy for filling board of education vacancies and set a deadline of 4 p.m. Friday to submit applications to replace former board member Donald Pearce.

The rules approved in the 5-0 vote require that candidates provide a letter of interest and biography or resume and submit in writing to the superintendent their reasons for seeking appointments.

Board member Michael Ginther did not attend the special meeting.

The school district in southeast Monroe County is a seeking a replacement for Mr. Pearce, who is one of four board members targeted in a special recall election that will take place next Tuesday.

A group called Save Our Schools circulated petitions to get the election recall on the ballot to oust Mr. Pearce, Sandra Dobbs, Wynne Phillips, and Kenneth Sieg.

Mr. Pearce, who had been a board member since 1999, resigned unexpectedly July 13.

The campaign to recall the board members stems from action taken in February that resulted in the firing of middle school principal Thomas McGarry.

Mrs. Dobbs, who replaced Mr. Pearce as board president, said that a committee of herself, Denise Gale, and Mr. Sieg will review applicants and recommend three to five candidates to the full board for interviews on Monday, the eve of the recall election. She said the board could arrive at the decision on the appointment at the meeting.

Action taken by the board last night will not affect applications given to the district between July 13 and July 22.

According to motions approved by board members, individuals who applied for the vacancy in that period will be considered for the appointment and will not be required to submit additional information.