Penn Twp. Board Seat Appointee Applicants | Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Skip to main content

Penn Twp. Board Seat Appointee Applicants

Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees Mrs. Jaye Galloway, representing Penn Township Seat #1, and Mr. Jamie Woods, representing Penn Township Seat #2, both notified the St. Joseph County Office Clerk of the Circuit Court, P-H-M Board of School Trustees President Mr. Christopher Riley, and Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker of their resignations from the P-H-M Board of School Trustees effective Friday, November 5th, 2021. 

 

Mr. Woods term was set to expire at the end of 2024 and Mrs. Galloway’s term was set to expire at the end of 2022. Both were representing Penn Township.

 

Per Indiana Code 20-23-4-30, the remaining school board members must appoint an individual, in this case two, to fill the board vacancies within 30 days by a majority vote. The appointees must live within the boundaries of the school corporation and Penn Township and shall serve the balance of the term of the seat being vacated. The individuals appointed must possess the qualifications provided for a regularly elected or appointed governing body member filling the office. 

 

P-H-M bylaws po0142 lists the qualifications for P-H-M School Trustee appointees as the following:

  • The appointees must be a resident of Penn Township and must also reside within P-H-M boundaries for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the date of appointment;
  • must be at least 21 years of age per Indiana Code 20-26-4-9;
  • and must also be registered voters.

 

Below are all the applicants that submitted letters of intent and resumes by the Wednesday, Nov. 17, 4:30 p.m. deadline. All applicants listed below were verified by P-H-M as meeting the qualifications listed above. 

 

The remaining members of the P-H-M Board of School Trustees met the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 17 to review all the applicants and choose finalists that will be called for the Board interview process.

 

The rest of the timeline is listed below:

 

  • Thursday, November 18 - Finalists are contacted (via phone and/or email) to schedule an interview date/time.

     

  • Monday, November 29, 6:00 p.m. - The Board of School Trustees holds a Special Board Meeting in the public to interview the final appointee candidates. 

     

  • Tuesday, November 30, 6:00 p.m. - The Board of School Trustees holds a Special Board Meeting in the public to interview the final appointee candidates. 
     

  • Wednesday, December 1, 8:00 a.m. - The Board of School Trustees holds a Special Board Meeting in the public to vote to fill the two vacant Penn Township Board positions. 
     

  • Monday, December 13, 7:00 p.m. - The Board of School Trustees holds the regularly scheduled Board Meeting. The administration of the Oath of Office of the newest P-H-M School Trustees will take place at the beginning of this meeting.
     

All meetings will take place at the Educational Services Center (55900 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka). While the meetings are being conducted in the public and the public is welcome to attend and observe, public comment will not be part of the Special Board Meeting format.

 

We know there will be public interest in this process. We ask that all members of the public familiarize themselves with Indiana Code 20-23-4-30. In the case of Board vacancies when a board member leaves prior to the expiration of their term, there is not a public election process. The Board chooses and names the appointees to fill these vacancies. Indiana Code charges the Board to be thorough in their process, act swiftly, and to conduct the interview process in a format that the public can view. 

 

If you have any questions on Indiana Code or how this process works, please visit the Indiana General Assembly website or the website for Indiana’s Public Access Counselor.