Stephens Co. BOE Starts Process of Filling Vacancy

The Stephens County Board of Education is starting the process of filling its current vacancy.

Thursday, the school board set the process it will use for filling the vacant seat created when Jeff Webb resigned from his District 2 seat.

Webb resigned last month after being arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence by the Toccoa Police Department.

Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey said that the process that is laid out in board policy for filling a vacancy can be very simple.

“Your current process by law is basically it has to be someone eligible from the District and it requires a motion, second, and a majority vote,” said Dorsey.

Board members noted that when filling past vacancies, the school board has accepted applications, then conducted interviews with the candidates before voting on its choice.

School board member David Fricks said he thinks that is a good process that the school board should use again here.

“I like the idea,” said Fricks. “That is how we have done it in the past. It gives everybody a fair shot.”

Fricks said that the Board of Education could then interview the candidates in a called meeting before making a choice.

He said that would help fill the vacancy as quickly as possible.

The school board also discussed how many candidates it would interview.

Board member Jim Bellamy said he would like to talk to all of those who apply.

“There is some I do not even know,” said Bellamy.

Other school board members did note that if numerous candidates apply, that could take some time.

In the end, the Board of Education voted unanimously to accept applications for the vacancy through May 27, 2016 and then set up a called meeting to interview the candidates.

Anyone who lives in District 2 who wishes to apply for the open Board of Education seat should submit resumes and letters of interest to the Stephens County Board of Education at 191 Big A School Road, Toccoa, Ga. 30577, Attention: Bryan Dorsey.

District 2 of the Stephens County Board of Education covers in general, the northern and northeastern part of Stephens County.

Whoever is chosen to serve the remainder of Webb’s term will be on the Board of Education through the end of 2018.