WS/FC Schools board voting to replace member on Oct. 20
By Tevin Stinson
The Chronicle
Last month, Jeannie Metcalf, a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools board, abruptly stepped down from the position she has held for 21 years.
Metcalf was the vice chair and the longest serving member on the board that has six new members.
In November 2014, Metcalf was elected to her sixth term and was serving as a guide to the new members. She announced her resignation on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the start of a regularly scheduled school board meeting.
Metcalf said the health of herself and her husband played a big role in her stepping down.
Board by-laws state that the remaining eight school board members choose the person to fill vacancies between elections. The by-laws also require that the new member be the same political party as the member who vacated the seat. Metcalf is a registered Republican.
Since Metcalf filled the seat for District 2, the board decided that the new board member should also live in District 2, to keep balance.
Earlier this month, the board released the names of the eight applicants who the remaining board members have to choose from.
The applicants are; Peter Antinozzi, Lida Hayes Calvert, Michelle Craun, Jay Davenport, Tina Heelan, Thomas Keener, Linda Petrou and Steve Wood.
Board member Elizabeth Motsinger said that they have some very good candidates to choose from.
“We have some very good candidates. I know the board will make the right decision,” she said.
During the school board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, Dana Jones, school board chairwoman, announced the process the board will go through before picking the new member.
According to Jones, on Oct. 20, the board will have a curriculum meeting from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at which time they will begin interviews with the four finalists.
The names of the four finalists were not announced during the meeting.
“We will begin our scheduled curriculum meeting, have dinner, then begin meeting with our four finalists,” said Jones. “Each interview will be about 20 minutes.”
Because the meeting on Oct. 20 is a special called meeting, the board members had to decide whether they will allow questions from the public following the voting.
Although the board voted to not take questions, Jones said anyone who wants to make a recommendation or show support for a candidate is free to email the members of the board.
“All of our contact information is listed online,” said Jones. “ So if anyone would like to show their support for a candidate, feel free to email us.”
The new school board member will be sworn in on Oct. 27.
To make a recommendation or to show support for one of the candidates visit the school boards official website, www.wsfcs.k12.us.
