Atwater school board extends application period for Area 2 trustee seat

The Atwater Elementary School District governing board this week extended the application period before appointing an Area 2 trustee.

The board decided to appoint a trustee rather than hold a costly election after Joe Hoffar, the board president, resigned Aug. 1. He is moving out of his area.

The district advertised the vacancy in the Sun-Star and the Atwater-Winton Times from July 16-23, and one eligible candidate submitted an application before the July 27 deadline. The board was scheduled to interview the applicant during the open session of Tuesday’s meeting.

Trustees Dale Wilson and Kelly Fincher said constituents expressed concern about the short application period. Had the application period been longer and advertised more, there would have been more applicants, they said.

“I feel that the process is a little bit flawed, or premature,” Fincher said.

Wilson, who is now board president, added: “I want to make sure the public understands we are trying to be as open as possible.”

Board members Scott Lee and Larry Whitney agreed it was a good idea to extend the application period in the interest of transparency and so public perception of the board was not tarnished.

“We want to be a public board and a transparent board,” Lee said.

Wilson added that the concern had nothing to do with the single applicant, Jeff Hammar, and that he hopes Hammar does not withdraw his application.

Hammar, who has worked with the city’s Junior Giants League for many years, said he supported what the board members said. “It just gives me more time to do research and learn the board policies,” he said.

The school district tentatively plans to advertise in the two newspapers for about three more weeks. A board subcommittee will gather the applications to determine which candidates are eligible for the seat. If necessary, the district may hold a special meeting to interview the candidates. To meet its deadline, the board hopes to appoint a new trustee at its Sept. 8 regular meeting.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 8:45 PM with the headline "Atwater school board extends application period for Area 2 trustee seat."