The Southwestern Consolidated Schools board filled its vacant position Tuesday at a special meeting on campus.
Shelbyville firefighter Derrek Tennell was chosen from a pool of applicants and will sit in his first scheduled monthly meeting on March 9.
“I’m a third generation graduate of the school and I have a son that is here in kindergarten so I am trying to do what is best for the community,” said Tennell following the meeting.
Before Tennell was nominated and approved unanimously, the board was asked what hiring criteria it used to make its selection.
Board president Jim Emerick stated a candidate had to put the students, staff and community first in decision making and he went on to say each candidate brought something specific that set them apart.
Derrek and his wife, Kristan, have two young sons, Avery and Rocky.
He credits his community experience, board experience serving a non-profit and being a union representative within the Shelbyville Fire Department as positives he can bring to the school board.
“Honestly, it was the right time for me and my family to commit the time to do it,” said Tennell.
In other board business Tuesday:
- The board approved a base salary raise of $5,000 for school nurse Rebecca Vise;
- The board, upon the recommendation of high school/junior school principal John Tindall, approved the hiring of Logan Shuppert to serve as a social worker for the school system. Shuppert will help alleviate the strain on the school’s counseling services, according to Tindall. The position will be evaluated on a year-to-year basis to determine its need.
