Nine Candidates to be Interviewed Feb. 2 for Vacant Banning School Board Slot

Nine people have applied for a vacant seat on the Banning Unified School District board of trustees, and they will be interviewed in public next week, according to the district superintendent.

The vacancy was created in December, when board member Melodie Reese resigned for undisclosed personal reasons, Superintendent Lynne Kennedy said.

Reese's resignation reduced the five-member to four.

"The District is currently in the process of reviewing applications with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters to ensure each candidate is a registered voter," Kenneday said in a statement.

Board candidate interviews will be held at a special open session meeting of the board, starting at 6 p.m. Thursday Feb. 2 in Banning city council chambers at 99 E. Ramsey St. in Banning, Kennedy said.

"Following candidate interviews, the Board will appoint a Board Member," the superintendent said.

"Any appointment to this vacancy is considered to be 'Provisional,'" Kennedy said. "If, after 30 days, there has not been a successful petition calling for a special election, the appointment shall become permanent."

Voters sought change on the board of trustees in November, when and one incumbent was ousted. The current board president is one of the three recently-sworn board members, Ray Curtis.