22 Applied to Grosse Pointe School Board

The 22 candidates who applied to serve on the Grosse Pointe Public School Board will be interviewed in small groups April 23 with the help of the League of Women Voters Grosse Pointe, board president Joan Dindoffer said early Monday.

Applications were due Friday by 4 p.m. and Dindoffer said packets of the applications were distributed Friday to all board members. Those who applied are being considered to fill the vacancy on the board created by former trustee, due to new professional responsibilities.

Dindoffer is pleased with the number of applications, describing it as "surprised and delighted" with the interest by the public. 

Given the number of applicants, the board cannot do individual interviews, she said. The board has reached out to the League of Women Voters Grosse Pointe for help in running a panel style interview, Dindoffer said. 

The interviews will happen April 23 beginning at 6 p.m. The location will be determined after Dindoffer receives feedback from the administration about availability of space, she said. 

The public is invited to attend the interviews, however the public will not participate, Dindoffer said. The questions of the candidates, which will be conducted in small groups, will come from the board members, she said. 

Ultimately, the board majority will decide who fills the vacancy, which must be filled within 30 days of Walsh's resignation or the decision goes to Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency, or RESA.

Walsh's resignation was March 28--in the last few hours of the day before spring break began.

The school board will meet tonight beginning at 7 p.m. According to the agenda, the board will discuss an update on this process. 

The person selected to fill the vacancy will serve on the board through December 2014, which is when Walsh's term would have expired. 

In addition to selecting a new trustee, the board will have to decide upon a new treasurer in Walsh's absence, which district officials said will likely to an existing board member. 

Patch will be updating this story to include a list of the candidates with a brief profile on each person. 

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