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CPS Board Looking To Fill Vacant Seat

Bill Rinehart
/
WVXU
Members of the CPS Board of Education reveal the process to fill a seat left vacant by the death of Chris Nelms.

Cincinnati Public Schools opens the search for a new board member Friday. The death of Chris Nelms earlier this month created the vacancy.

Applications will be accepted through October 5. The board plans to start interviewing finalists the week of October 9, and expects to vote on a new member on October 18.

By law, the board has until October 19 to choose a replacement. The law also says the county probate court judge will make the appointment if the board can't agree on a replacement. 

Board President Ericka Copeland-Dansby is asking for the public's input.

"We are releasing a simple survey and asking them to help us create the criteria for selecting the next board member," Copeland-Dansby says.

The online survey has a list of qualities and characteristics. "We're asking the public to select their top five," she says. 

That survey will be up until October 3.

Copeland-Dansby says Chris Nelms had a number of qualities and practices that made him stand out.

"Collaboration, understanding our population, understanding our families, understanding what happens in our children's homes when they're away from the school building, and how it's our obligation and responsibility to support them when they're in our care."

The board of education meets at least twice a month with special meetings called as necessary.

The selected candidate will serve the remainder of Nelms' term, which expires December 31, 2019.

Bill Rinehart started his radio career as a disc jockey in 1990. In 1994, he made the jump into journalism and has been reporting and delivering news on the radio ever since.