St. Charles school board fills open seat

The St. Charles school board returned to full force Tuesday with the appointment of James Chimienti as its newest member.

Chimienti will be sworn in Monday as a replacement for the board's longest-serving member, Chris Hansen, who resigned in July after months of controversy and turmoil.

Chimienti has lived in St. Charles more than 10 years and has three children in the district. He is expected to serve in the volunteer post until the next board election in the spring of 2009.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Chimienti after more than 90 minutes behind closed doors.

Board President Kathy Hewell said the decision was difficult because the board was "very impressed" with six applicants for the position.

Chimienti stood out, Hewell said, partly because of past volunteer work on the district's Gifted and Talented Task Force, and his campaign efforts for a building bond referendum last year.

"He has a leg up in terms of having a better knowledge base of the district," she said. "He has been very involved."

Chimienti is an independent contractor who designs Web sites and Internet databases. The board picked him from a slate of six applicants made up mostly of district parents with various professional backgrounds, including education.

Seven people originally expressed interest in the job. Will Hohm, a local doctor and past board member who served in the 1970s, dropped out of the running last week after the board announced the list of candidates.

Board members interviewed each of the applicants in public -- a move Hewell said was an effort to facilitate openness with the public.

The board has been trying to regain trust in the wake of controversy over a contract extension for former Superintendent Barbara Erwin. The board was recently sanctioned by the Kane County state's attorney for illegally approving the measure behind closed doors in 2005.

Hansen has said he hopes someone "without any baggage" taking his place will help the board move forward.

Chimienti did not attend Tuesday's meeting. But during his public interview last week, he said his technology knowledge and volunteer experiences would be an asset to District 303.