Chris Ford Appointed New Neligh-Oakdale Board Member

Nine people wrote letters of interest to fill the vacant Neligh-Oakdale Board of Education position. After a nearly 80-minute interview process, Christopher Ford was appointed to join the six-member board during tonight's regular meeting.

Ford will serve the remainder of former board member Del Ames' position. Ames submitted his resignation last month, and his resignation was approved prior to the interviews and appointment. The term will end in January 2016.

Others writing letters of interest were Angie Belitz, Terra Bentley-Kimes, Cory Furstenau, Ron Gilg, Janelle Kallhoff, Brent Pickrell, Ron Rice and Don Zegers.

Led by 2014 vice president Brad Higgins, each candidate was asked one question - the same question - by each board member. Higgins said candidates were sequestered until their interview for "fairness" in order to not overhear the questions or anyone else's answers. The order was chosen through a drawing. The order was Gilg, Belitz, Rice, Zegers, Ford, Bentley-Kimes, Pickrell, Kallhoff and Furstenau.

Krista Schindler made a motion to appoint Ford, which was seconded by Higgins. The motion carried on a 3-2 roll-call vote. David Wright and Ryan Koinzan voted against. 

The questions asked were the following: 
Higgins: What do you already know about our school and why are you interested in serving on the board? 
Koinzan: As a school board member how appropriate would it be to have Superintendent Kim Lingenfelter  contact your employer about your workplace performance?
Reinke: What personal or professional quality do you hope to bring to the school board?
Schindler: What kinds of skills or expertise can you offer?
Wright: Jon Adams said we are a nation of laws and not of men, do you believe the Neligh-Oakdale school board should be ruled by the constitution of U.S. and the constitution of the state of Nebraska and by the policies set forth by the Neligh-Oakdale school board? In essence, should Neligh-Oakdale follow the laws of land and its own policies?

Forty-five people attended the meeting, which was held in the school library. The board was reorganized. Reinke was nominated as president but declined the nomination. Wright was then nominated and selected as president. Ford was nominated for vice president but declined the nomination. Higgins was then nominated and selected. Koinzan was nominated and selected as secretary.