News : Board appoints Mike Timmermans to fill vacancy

Former Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School Principal Mike Timmermans has joined the Vinton-Shellsburg School Board.

Timmermans was one of three men who submitted applications for the opening left by Todd Wiley, who resigned in October. Joe Wehage and Don Boddicker also expressed interest. Each briefly spoke to the school board. Megan Rickels then nominated Timmermans, and the board unanimously agreed. Timmermans will fill the vacancy until the next school board election.

School board members Sue Gates and Rob Levis thanked the three men for expressing interest in the job; at last month's meeting, nobody had come forward to offer to fill the vacancy.

Saying that he has known all three personally, Levis said he would be proud to serve with any of them. He urged Boddicker and Wehage to consider running for the school board in the future, and even suggested that one of them could eventually replace him on the board.

Wiley recieved a plaque and words of thanks from Board President Sue Gates for his nine years of service. He told the board that he had only planned on serving for six years, but agreed to run for a third term because Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock asked him to stay on to provide some continuity while she adjusted to her then-new position at VS.

"My family is fine, my health is fine and there is no controversy that is causing me to leave," Wiley said. "It's just time."

Wiley said he plans to pursue other public service opportunities in the near future.