Montcalm Township resident Richelle Lentz, who finished third in the race for the Greenville Public Schools Board of Education Tuesday, just missing out on winning one of two open seats, was unanimously appointed by the Board during a special meeting Wednesday to fill the vacancy on the Board that was created after the resignation of former board president Norice Rasmussen. — DN Photo | Cory Smith
GREENVILLE — The Greenville Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday evening to appoint Richelle Lentz of Montcalm Township to fill a vacancy on the school board following the resignation of former board president Norice Rasmussen last month.
With Trustee Michael Huff absent, the five remaining members of the Board held final interviews during Wednesday’s special meeting in which Lentz, along with fellow finalists Megan Dillingham, Michael O’Brien and Greta Skogseth, were interviewed.
A total of eight residents within the Greenville Public Schools district submitted letters of interest, which the Board whittled down to four finalists during a special meeting of the Board on Monday.
The other four individuals who applied but did not receive interviews included Bart Brown, Joshua Franklin, Susan Harrington and Rick Marshall.
Lentz was one of six candidates who ran for two open seats on the Board — left in the wake of outgoing board members Ron Billmeier and Rocky Hansen — in Tuesday’s midterm election; however, she finished third in voting behind election-winners Maureen Wolverton and Brian Gardner, who will be sworn onto the Board in January.
Lentz also applied and received an interview in September to fill a vacancy on the Board following the resignation of former trustee Jodi Petersen, but the Board voted unanimously at that time to appoint Huff to that seat over Lentz and three other finalists.
Upon being selected by the Board, Lentz told the Daily News that after multiple attempts of attempting to join the school board in order to serve the school district, she was elated to finally receive the opportunity.
“I am excited to be able to serve,” she said. “That was ultimately why I ran, why I applied a first time and now this second time, because I am very passionate about serving my community. I am excited that I am going to get the opportunity to do that.”
Lentz will occupy her seat on the Board until the next regular election of the Board, which will occur in November of 2024, at which time she will have to run for the remainder of the term, which expires in December of 2026, to remain on the Board.
