Sean C. Morgan
The School Board appointed Nick A. Augsberger Monday evening during its regular meeting to fill a vacancy left by board member Dale Keene, who resigned last month.
The district received just one application.
“To me it’s a way to meet people and get to know the community,” Augsburger said. “This would be a great opportunity to serve our community.
“I have much interest in public education, and I would like to see the quality of our students education as top priority in our School District.”
Augsberger is also serving on the city Tree Commission.
He moved to Sweet Home from Myrtle Point two years ago and is a forester with Cascade Timber Consulting.
His brother Luke Augsburger is principal at Foster Elementary School.
The position will be open in the May election, and the winner of that election will serve out the remainder of Keene’s term till 2017.
Present at the meeting were board members Jason Van Eck, Leena Ellis, Chanz Keeney, Kevin Burger, Chairman Mike Reynolds, David VanDerlip and Jenny Daniels. Jason Redick was absent.
In other business, the board:
n Asked Supt. Don Schrader to begin searching Friday for a new principal at Sweet Home High School.
The deadline to submit an application will be the end of January.
Monday evening, during the regular District 55 School Board meeting, Schrader submitted a draft time line for the process. Based on discussion with the board, the application period will run from Dec. 12 to Jan. 30.
Chairman Mike Reynolds assigned Van Eck and Jenny Daniels to serve on the committee.
Following the application period, a committee consisting of 10 to 15 would screen applications and then meet to review the screening process and select candidates to interview and conduct reference checks.
The committee would select two or three finalists and then conduct site visits before recommending them to the superintendent for final interviews. The superintendent will then submit a recommendation to the School Board for approval.
Schrader will seek teachers, classified staff, community members and parents to serve on the committee, and he will take input from the community about the position at the forum scheduled for Monday, Dec. 15.
The forum begins at 6 p.m. in the High School library.
Additionally district staff will provide information and answer questions about Common Core standards, and the student wellness policy.
For more information, call the superintendent’s office at (541) 367-7126.
n Accepted the retirement of Oak Heights Title I teacher Candy Snyder effective on Dec. 31. She will work through the 2014-15 school year on a special contract.
n Hired Joni Nortune as a temporary fourth-grade teacher at Oak Heights for the remainder of the 2014-15 school year.
n Declared Foster School toys, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, hats, stuffed animals, puppets and wooden blocks surplus.
n Held the second reading of board policy revisions ranging from integrated pest management and district nutrition and food services to school bus driver examination and training and prescription medication.
n Appointed four to the Budget Committee. They include Miriam J. Hooley, at large; Kevin A. Pettner, Foster; Jessica R. Garrett, Crawfordsville; and Gerritt W. Schaffer, at large.
Three positions remain open for Holley, Liberty and Sweet Home.