NICKERSON, Kan. — In a very unorthodox fashion, the Nickerson USD 309 Board of Education filled two vacant seats during Monday’s meeting.
After once again rejecting a number of applicants, the board went outside the box and appointed former South Hutchinson City Councilman Luke Herren to fill the South Hutchinson seat and Jay Mitzner for the Reno Valley vacancy. Both were appointed by the board after each stood up and spoke from the audience. Neither had filled out the normal application for appointment.
The South Hutchinson and Reno Valley Seats have been vacant for more than a year now. Attempts to fill the seats had been unsuccessful as the current five member board rejected any additions time and again.
There were two names up for consideration for each seat. But Ken and Jane Gamber who were up for consideration for the Reno Valley seat and RJ Wensel and Larry Meadows for the South Hutchinson position were turned down by the board.
A couple of other items were approved, the Nickerson High School daily schedule which will comprise seven periods, and the purchase of 150 MacBooks at a cost of $158,850 for teachers and 350 Chromebooks for students at a cost of $98,675.