With the recent resignation of Grant Reeves from the Franklin County Community School Board of Trustees, a quartet of applicants submitted letters of interest to fill the vacant District 4 seat (Whitewater & Springfield townships, precinct in Highland).

They are Jessica Brennan, Donald Maucher, Darrin Middendorf and Matthew Siedling.

At a special meeting called Monday, the six current trustees came just short of a voting quorum of four to fill the vacancy. Each candidate had approximately 15 minutes to field questions and give statements, this after an executive session earlier in the afternoon. Members had also reviewed resumes and spoken with candidates individually.

Candidates were ushered out of the room after about an hour and a discussion of their merits ensued. Each of the four were discussed in some capacity. Rick Gill made the first motion for Siedling, seconded by Beth Foster. Vote was split 3-3. Kevin Kaiser motioned for Middendorf, but motion failed for lack of second. Kaiser then brought up Brennan, which got a second; vote was 3-2 in favor as board president Francis Brumback told her he nearly put his hand up but opted to abstain.

Foster then made a motion to take the evening’s proceedings under advisement and meet in another executive session May 8, 6 p.m., prior to the board regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 7 p.m. The chosen candidate would likely be just an observer that evening.

Maucher was the first candidate interviewed. He was volunteer fire chief at New Trenton Fire Department for 22 years and recently retired from Procter & Gamble.

“How can I help, it’s time for me to step up and make it better for the next generation,”said Maucher. 

He brought up potentially closing schools in the future and how he felt about the issue. He said he’d have to review all data and numbers as well as take citizens’feelings into consideration. He personally likes smaller schools but “if the dollars and cents don’t allow us to keep a school open, we’e got to do what’s right overall.” Maucher stressed the importance of children’s safety and teaching industrial technology, as well. His goal was to be an effective member of the board.

Next up was Brennan, whose two children are/were attending Mt. Carmel School, where Brennan serves as president of the parent-teacher organization. 

On tough financial decisions like closing schools, Brennan said there needed to be a “sound decision.”“You cannot make a change without having a good reason, something’s working or not working and proof is in front of you,”she added. She said kids are number one in importance while teachers also need to be taken care of.

“I think we need fresh eyes, sometimes having a different perspective,”she said. “There’s only one chance to put new eyes on something.”

Siedling followed, stating he’s served on the school board for about 12.5 years until stepping off just under three years ago. He felt honored when Brumback called and asked him to put his name in again. The role of a trustee, as he sees it, is to help the superintendent do everything she needs to do to get her job done. Siedling admitted it can be a difficult position with people being critical of financial and other decisions.

Again asked about budgetary issues like keeping schools open, Siedling said to study the data. “You have to do what’s best …if you’re out of money, you’re out of money, period.”

Middendorf is president of American Elevator in Anderson; his wife Kelley teaches in the school system and serves as president of the local teachers’union. They have two children in the system.

He said the board is expected to deal with any issues that come up, citing Covid as something no one could have foreseen. He touted his leadership in the business world, helping groups across the country with office strategies and operations. About making hard decisions, he said that’s something he’s done his whole career; he doesn’t take hiring and firing decisions lightly, for instance.

Asked whether his decision making on the board might affect his wife in her role(s), he did not see this as a problem. In fact, he looked at it as a positive –allowing for a direct line of communication.

Most of the trustees agreed each candidate presented themselves well. As discussion continued, each trustee gave reasons why they narrowed their personal choices. When candidates returned, they were praised for stepping forward and applying as well as encouraged to run for school board in the next election cycle if they weren’t selected.