Dist. 204 unanimously picks volunteer to fill board seat

Longtime district volunteer Cathy Piehl was appointed late Tuesday to the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board.

Board members interviewed six candidates and discussed the selection in a process that lasted more than five hours before unanimously selecting Piehl.

Board President Mark Metzger said Piehl "brings to the table" skills and talents that complement the current board members.

"Cathy is a longtime resident of District 204, a mother of children in our school system and a longtime volunteer," Metzger said.

"Most recently she has done a great deal of her work with the Parent Diversity Advisory Council and the dialogue circles that group has sponsored for the past several years."

Earlier this summer, 24 residents applied to fill the district's vacant seat.

Late last month, the board narrowed the field to six based on resumes and letters submitted by the candidates.

Former board member Bruce Glawe announced his resignation from the board Aug. 6. to spend more time with his family and his need to spend more time with his position as the president and CEO of a local bank.

Glawe was first appointed to the seven-member board in 2004 and was elected in 2005 to serve a 4-year term.

During the application process, Piehl indicated she would serve the rest of Glawe's term, which would expire in April 2009, and seek to be re-elected to the seat at that time.

Piehl was no longer at the meeting at the time of her selection and was unavailable for comment.