PERRYSBURG – The school district has begun accepting applications for an anticipated board vacancy
that was made official Tuesday.Barry Van Hoozen, a 12-year member, was elected to city council last month
and thus cannot continue his term on the school board, which runs through 2015. Van Hoozen has announced
that his resignation will be effective Dec. 24, which starts the timeline for the board to select his
replacement.After the election, Van Hoozen said he was unsure about when he planned to step down. The timing
of that move determined which group would choose a successor, the existing board with two outgoing members
or the new board with two new members in January.Had Van Hoozen resigned sooner, the current board could
have selected Van Hoozen’s successor, but outgoing school board member Valerie Hovland would not have been
eligible, as her own term would not yet have ended.Hovland, who did not earn re-election in November but was
the highest vote-getter to not win a seat, has expressed interest in the opening, and several community
members have taken to school board meetings to support her. Hovland received 2,110 votes in last month’s
election, compared to Sue Larimer, 2,347 votes, and Cal Smith, 2,254 votes, who will be installed in
January.Candidates for the vacancy are required to be registered voters living within the school district.
Written notice of interest is required by 4 p.m. on Jan 3. Applications may include a resume and details of
community involvement and support of the school district. Qualifications will be reviewed and candidates
interviewed at a meeting Jan. 9 beginning at 5:30 p.m.Applications may be mailed to Superintendent Thomas L.
Hosler, Perrysburg Schools, 140 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, OH 43551; or sent to
[email protected] Hosler or Treasurer Matt Feasel with questions by calling
419-874-9131.