At its special board meeting Wednesday evening, the Merrill Area Public School Board elected Linda Yingling as a new board member. The board vacancy was created when former board president, Jeff Verdoorn, announced in July his intention to resign from the board.
As per its policy, the board solicited nominations from community members for the open seat. After interviews and consideration, the board elected Yingling as the new board member on a majority vote. Five candidates were interviewed by the board.
With eight members voting, the first round of voting yeilded Yingling four votes, Nancy Kwiesielewicz two votes and Kevin Blake two votes. Because a majority vote of board members present and voting was not received, the vote was conducted again. This time, Yingling received five votes, Kwiesielewicz received two votes and Blake received one vote.
Yingling, 29, of the town of Pine River, had run for a MAPS Board seat in the April 2013 election but narrowly missed being elected. She is a Merrill native and has two children in MAPS schools.
Yingling’s term will end April 2014.