Vancouver Public Schools board to fill vacancy

The board of Vancouver Public Schools is preparing to conduct interviews for the board position vacated by Mari Greves, whose last meeting was Tuesday.

Six candidates submitted applications. Each submitted a letter of interest responding to two questions.

Board members will interview the six applicants during a special public board meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for 3 p.m. Jan. 20. The board is contacting the candidates. If that date does not work for all candidates, another January date will be chosen.

Once the interviews are scheduled, the district will provide a public meeting notice, and post the date and time on the district website, said Pat Nuzzo, district spokeswoman.

The board plans to appoint its new member at its Jan. 27 meeting. Board members will select one candidate to serve the remainder of Greves’ term until the next general election in November.

Greves had served on the board since 1995. A public reception for Greves is from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Bates Center for Educational Leadership, 2921 Falk Road.

The board has five members, and each lives in a different area of the school district. Current board members are Edri Geiger, Kathy Gillespie, Dale Rice and Mark Stoker.

The six candidates are:

• Katy Belokonny, 32, who works on the development and public affairs team at C-Tran and holds a communications degree from Washington State University. Her volunteer experience includes Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Camas/Washougal Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver’s Downtown Association, Regional Transportation Advisory Committee, American Public Transportation Association and Washington State Transit Association.

• Peter John Harrison, 53, a computer scientist, biologist, chemist and writer. He holds a biology degree from Washington State University and a computer science degree from Coleman College. His volunteer experience includes Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, American Red Cross and Bob Dingethal’s 2014 congressional campaign.

• Heather Lindberg, 30, who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Pacific Lutheran University and a master’s degree in teaching from City University. Her volunteer experience includes service as president of the Vancouver PTA Council, Region 3 legislative chair for the Washington State PTA and as a volunteer in district schools.

• Jill Nelson, 56, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of South Dakota and Drake University and a master’s degree in divinity from the Saint Paul School of Theology. She is the founder/chief executive officer of INUS Group. Her volunteer experience includes chair of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Pacific region of the LGBT Chambers of Commerce and Business and Organizations. Additionally, Nelson has served on the boards of the Broward County LGBT Youth Group, A. Austin Amerine Retreat Center, Salem Rainbow Youth and Portland Area Businesses Association.

• Heidi Rosenberg, 58, whose public-sector career includes positions focused on capital facility planning, community development and capital project design and construction for the Port of Vancouver, C-Tran, Vancouver Public Schools and Camas School District. She is the capital program manager at Clark Regional Wastewater District. She is a volunteer for the school district and the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools, and a former board member for the city of Camas Sister Cities Organization, Affordable Community Environments and YWCA of Clark County.

• Nada Wheelock, 45, who provides board development and volunteer program strategy with the SPOON Foundation. In addition to being a board member for the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools, her volunteer experience includes district PTA and booster clubs, Lunch Buddy, the Tuck Nonprofit Fund, Camp Fire board of directors, Mother Caroline Academy & Education Center and Big Sister mentor.