Five apply for seat on board

None of the four Jay School Board seats up for election in 2014 had a contested race. But there is no shortage of interest in vying for the open slot vacated by Mike Masters’ resignation.
Fielding a question following the board’s organizational meeting Monday, Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long presented a list of five candidates who have applied for the seat.
Also during Monday’s meeting, board members selected their leaders for 2016 and made a variety of other appointments. During a separate board of finance meeting, they got an update on the status of the general fund.
Candidates to take Masters’ place are Linda Brackman, 31 N. Oak St., Redkey; Tammy Bennett, 1074 S. Indiana 1, Redkey; Phil Ford, 3603 S. 1150 West, Dunkirk; Jeff Geesaman 4411 S. Indiana 1, Redkey; and Travis Shawver, 348 E. Main St., Redkey. The deadline to apply for the seat, which represents Knox and Richland townships outside of the City of Dunkirk, was noon Monday.
Masters announced in August that he planned to leave the board and made it official when he turned in a letter of resignation last month. His final day was Dec. 31.
Board members Kristi Betts, Beth Krieg, Ron Laux, Cory Gundrum and Greg Wellman, with Mike Shannon absent, planned to discuss the applicants during an executive session Monday.
This morning the board set a special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday to appoint its new member. It has until Jan. 30 to fill the vacancy.
Leaders for the 2016 school year were elected without opposition as Laux nominated Betts as president, Krieg as vice president and himself as secretary. That slate was approved 5-0.
The board also retained the Portland law firm Coldren & Frantz as corporation attorney and Church, Church, Hittle & Antrim, Noblesville, as extended counsel. Other appointments included Brad DeRome and Violet Current as treasurer and deputy treasurer respectively, and Lisa Evans and DeRome as small claims court representatives.
During the board of finance meeting, DeRome reported that the corporation’s year-end general fund balance was $1.68 million. That represents deficit spending in the general fund of $340,900 for 2015.
General fund finances have been a concern for the board, leading to discussion about the possible closure of schools, as the balance has dropped after sitting near the $3 million mark from 2005 through 2012.
DeRome also noted that the corporation made $12,330 in interest in 2015, down from $16,429 in the previous year.
In other business, the board:
•Appointed Dolphus Stephens to serve on Jay County Public Library Board. He replaces Mike McKee, who resigned at the end of 2015.
•Accepted conflict of interest statements from superintendent Tim Long, West Jay Middle School teacher Rick Guntle, business manager Brad DeRome, board attorney Phil Frantz and board members Wellman, Krieg, Laux and Betts.
•Made appointments to committees, including Laux and Gundrum to insurance and Krieg, Betts and Wellman to negotiations.
•Appointed Betts to continue as the school board legislative delegate.
•Wrote off nine checks, totaling $314.97, that are more than two years old.