Ozark names four to fill school board vacancy

Eleven candidates stepped up to fill the Ozark R-6 School District Board of Education’s newly vacated seat.

The board reviewed applications during a special meeting Sept. 6 and narrowed the pool to four:
    •    John Archer, administrative director of emergency departments at CoxHealth;
    •    Jeff Laney, an attorney with Haden, Cowherd & Bullock LLC;
    •    Joey Mills, a community volunteer; and
    •    Shane Nelson, owner of Ozark Abstract and Title Co. and former Ozark mayor.

The opening comes after board member Angie Barnes resigned to spend more time on her career, according to her Aug. 9 resignation letter. Barnes joined the board in 2014 and was serving a term scheduled to expire in April 2017.

The final four candidates will be interviewed during open session at the regularly scheduled Ozark R-6 board meeting Sept. 15. Under board policy, a recommendation then will be made in open session at the October meeting, according to a news release.
 
“I am so impressed with the number, quality and the diversity of the applicants,” board President Patty Quessenberry said in the release. “The board has worked incredibly well together through this difficult process, and we are confident in our selection of the final candidates.”

Applications for the seat were accepted though Sept. 1.