Sidney Board of Education names Miller to fill vacant seat

At their April meeting, the Sidney Public Schools Board of Education selected Randy Miller to fill the seat left vacant by Jeff Wernsman. Miller was nominated by board member Tom Vanseggern and a motion was made and approved unanimously by the board members to make Miller the next board member.

Vanseggern explained that the board is in charge of filling the seat with the person who they feel will best serve the public interest. This appointment will be in effect until the November 2014 elections. In those elections, voters will choose a person to fill the seat for a four year term.

Miller had served on the board previously when the members were selecting a new superintendent for the schools and has attended each board meeting since he was replaced.

Vanseggern said that since Miller has been at each board meeting, he has kept up with the current issues faced by the body. In addition, he has a little more “complete experience of how the board functions.”

Miller will sign his Oath of Office papers on May 13, the day of the next board meeting.

In the general election in November 2014, there will be four seats to fill on the panel. One seat will be for a two year term and three seats will be for four year terms.

The members also recognized Jeff Wernsman for his service to the board and displayed a plaque that will be presented to Wernsman who wasn’t able to attend the meeting. Superintendent Jay Ehler had spoken with Wernsman by phone, and relayed to the members that Wernsman expressed his gratitude for being allowed to serve and that he enjoyed being on the body “very much and he wished the board members the best.”

The board recognized students for March Performance Awards. Students chosen were: Bailey Bagnell, 7th grade; Samantha Kaus, 8th grade; Jasmine Jallen, 9th grade; Madisen Stafford, 10th grade; Casey Baldwin, 11th grade; Lauren Gull, 12th grade. The monthly Performance Award acknowledges achievement and other criteria such as GPA, attitude toward learning, exceptional work effort toward a particular class project, leadership, service and citizenship emphasized and modeled.

The next Sidney Public Schools BOE meeting will be on Monday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative offices. The public is welcome to attend.