The Columbus Public Schools Board of Education will interview 15 candidates during two meetings next week to fill a vacancy on the board.
The 15 were chosen from a field of 32 who submitted their names in two separate application periods.
The board initially receive 14 applications, and intended to choose a board member by Nov. 17.
But the deadline was extended into order to "expand the field of applicants," according to board President Terry Boyd, and to give those interested time to a learn about the new policy governance system under which the board will operate in the future.
During the second round, 18 more people submitted applications.
Whoever is chosen will replace Karen Schwarzwalder, who is resigning from the board in December to move to Findlay. Schwarzwalder, 63, has served on the board for 11 years.
Her replacement will be installed on the board at the organizational meeting on Jan 9.
The 15 candidates to be interviewed are:
Michael D. Cole, 350 S. Huron Ave. He is community relations manager with the Franklin County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board and the parent of two CPS students.
Robert Vincent Duncan, 2640 Floribunda Drive. He is a supervisor with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), a real-estate agent with Keller Williams Classic Properties. He is a CPS alumnus and has a granddaughter in CPS.
W. Shawna Gibbs, 2331 Argyle Drive. She is public relations manager for the Girl Scouts Seal of Ohio Council and a previous assistant marketing director with the Columbus Urban League. A graduate of Columbus Alternative High School, she is the parent of a first-grader at Winterset Elementary.
John Gilchrist, 827 Macon Alley. He is an attorney in private practice and serves as legal counsel to several state associations.
Stefphanie R. Harper, 6959 Remsen Drive, Canal Winchester. She is tourism promotions coordinator for Experience Columbus. A life-long Columbus resident, she has a son who attends a district school.
Neal V. Hitch, 245 N. Powell Ave. A restoration coordinator with the Ohio Historical Society, he is a graduate of West High School and his son attends Fort Hayes Arts & Academic High School.
Mark Hogan, 3884 Pinto Court. An attorney with Gerrity & Burrier Ltd., he is a 12-year Columbus resident.
Eulaunda Y. Jones, 1083 Miller Ave. She is owner and operator of the Eulaunda Moore Group, a public-relations and marketing company, and a real-estate associate. She also serves on the Driving Park Area Commission, is a graduate of East High School and the mother of a CPS graduate.
Caroline F. Keeble, P.O. Box 72032. She is a management accounting/controller whose youngest son attended a CPS school and is now in college. Her grandson currently attends a district school.
William O. Livisay, 1366 Loretta Ave., a prevention program manager for alcohol and drug abuse programs at the Columbus Health Department. He has served as mentor in a district school and has two children in Columbus high schools.
Carol L. Perkins, 1580 Melrose Ave. Perkins is a director of mobility services for COTA, and her children are Brookhaven High School graduates.
John O. Ramos, 3067 Kola Way. He is an inventory management specialist/demand planner at Defense Supply Center. Originally from Puerto Rico, he has worked in Columbus since 2003 and has three children currently or formerly attending Brookhaven High School.
Robyn S. Taylor, of 2380 Rolling Rock Drive. A special-projects coordinator with the Ohio Department of Health, Taylor is president of the Columbus Council of PTAs. She has children in Columbus schools.
Cynthia A. Tyson, 7696 Silver Fox Drive. She is an education professor at Ohio State University and taught in Columbus schools from 1988 to 1995.
Jarrod C. Weiss, 878 Carolyn Ave. He is a legislative aide to state Rep. Courtney Combs, a Republican from Hamilton. A 2000 graduate of Northland High School, he is a volunteer acting coach there and tutors in a Columbus elementary school.
<b>shagan@thisweeknews.com
