Highlands School Board on Monday appointed an insurance agent from Brackenridge and a computer consultant from the Natrona Heights section of Harrison to fill two board vacancies.
The votes lacked the divisiveness that's recently plagued the board. One of the appointees, in fact, said he hopes to bring a sense of unity to the board.
The board appointed Laura Thimons, 31, to replace Judy Sims in District 2. District 2 covers Brackenridge and part of Harrison.
Bruce Figler, 58, was named to replace Tim McCue in District 3. District 3 is the remainder of Harrison.
Each board member except Judy Wisner voted for Thimons. Wisner voted for Jeff Davis of Natrona Heights.
Thimons and Davis were the only District 2 candidates.
In District 3, board President Chris Salego and members Ron Misejka, Mark Peck and John Stanoski voted for Figler. Directors Gary Alexander and Ron Lang voted for Jill Hetrick, of Natrona Heights, while Wisner voted for Tony Orzechowski, of Natrona Heights.
Michele Vertosick, of Natrona Heights, also applied but didn't show up for an interview at Monday night's special meeting, Salego said.
Thimons and Figler said they intend to run for election next year to retain their seats. Both said they would have run even if they hadn't been appointed.
If Thimons wins re-election, she'll serve the final two years of Sims' term.
Figler, if he runs and wins, would begin a new, four-year term.
"I'd just like to get my feet wet and learn from the board," Thimons said of her first priority as a district official.
During her interview, Thimons told the board, "I have a desire not only to help the kids in the community but also the senior citizens."
Thimons and her husband have two children in district schools and a third who will begin school in the near future, Thimons said.
Saying she wants to help shape the future of the district, Thimons told the board, "I decided that it's time to get involved, rather than just sit back."
In response to a question from Misejka about her feelings toward district renovations, Thimons said, "I agree that, within reason, you need to keep the schools renovated ... keep them on the cutting edge."
Thimons said that her job as an insurance agent has given her experience in creating budgets.
Figler, meantime, said his work as a computer consultant could benefit the district as it seeks to improve the technology it offers students.
Figler, who doesn't have children in district schools, told the board that district officials made a mistake by not going to wireless technology as recently as five years ago.
The primary purpose of the school board, Figler said, is ensuring that "the school district runs properly for the education of the students.
"The students in the district come first," Figler told the board.
Figler said that in the 1970s and 1980s, he served on committees that advised school directors in the South Butler County and Armstrong school districts.
He told a reporter after the meeting that he wants to end the divisiveness on the board.
"I'd like to get the board together so that everyone isn't killing each other," he said.
Sims and McCue resigned on Dec. 4. They were among the board minority along with member Judy Wisner.
McCue said in a letter that he didn't want "to be a part of further decline of this School Board."
Sims said that, "morally and ethically," she couldn't continue to serve.
