Former District 303 board president tapped to fill board seat

A former St. Charles Unit District 303 school board president has been tapped to fill a board seat vacated last month by James Gaffney.

Scott Nowling of St. Charles was one of six candidates chosen to interview for the position Saturday. He previously served as an elected school board member from 2007 to 2011, including two years as board president, according to district officials.

After a more than two-hour discussion following the interviews, school board members unanimously voted to appoint Nowling, board President Kathy Hewell said in a statement. He will be sworn in during a special board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"This was an extremely difficult decision for the board. All six of our final candidates have background and experience that would enhance the work of the district," Hewell said. "We are excited to have Mr. Nowling join the (District 303) school board and believe that his prior experience and personal qualities will be a welcome addition."

Nowling is an executive district manager for Johnson & Johnson and also served as a co-chair of a Summit 303 community engagement process in 2012, district officials said, He will serve on the board until the April 2, 2019 election, at which point voters will elect a candidate to serve the remaining two years of Gaffney's term.

Fourteen people applied to replace Gaffney, who previously served on the board for 15 years. Gaffney, 71, announced his resignation in a June 3 letter to Hewell, saying he enjoyed his time on the board and was ready to move on.