[billiefan2000]

OPS opens search for board member



The Omaha Public Schools is seeking applications from district residents interested in filling a recently vacated school board term.

Last week, long-time board member Mark Martinez announced he would leave the board because he was confirmed by Congress as a U.S. Marshall. Martinez represented Subdistrict 7, which runs from just north of F Street south to Cornhusker Road and between 36th and 60th Streets.

Interested candidates must submit an application to the Board of Education by 4:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at 3215 Cuming St. Applicants must be a registered voter and have lived in Subdistrict 7 for at least six months. An appointment is expected on or before Feb. 17.

The seat will be part of the May primary election and November general election. The appointed member could run as an incumbent.

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Metro/Region - OPS opens search for board member

[billiefan2000]

Five people have applied for a chance to serve on the Omaha Public Schools board.

A vacancy was created when Mark Martinez, a board member for more than seven years, gave up his seat after being confirmed by Congress as a U.S. marshal.

The Subdistrict 7 seat represents an area from Cornhusker Road to just north of F Street and from 36th to 60th Streets.

The applicants:

AdvertisingŸJohn Farnan, 42, is director of marketing for Simpson Supply, an acoustic tile distributor. He ran unsuccessfully for Bellevue City Council in 2000. His children attend the Bellevue Public Schools.

ŸRoger Garcia, 23, works as a community liaison for the City of Omaha, focusing on south Omaha. Garcia grew up in Columbus, Neb., and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

ŸJuliana Garza, 33, handles quality assurance and education and student support services for the Latino Center of the Midlands. She grew up in Texas and holds a master of public administration degree from UNO.

ŸLacey Merica, 26, is an administrative aide for State Sen. Heath Mello. She attended OPS from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating from Omaha Bryan in 2001. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

ŸBarbara Velazquez, 51, is coordinator of international and intercultural education at Metropolitan Community College. According to her application, she has been an OPS parent and step-parent since the late 1980s.

Each applicant will be interviewed by current board members in a public session Feb. 8. An appointment is expected on or before Feb. 17.

The seat will be on the ballot in the May primary and the November general election. The appointed member could seek election as an incumbent.

http://omaha.com/article/20100129/NEWS01/701299890

[billiefan2000]

OPS board appoints new member

A new Omaha Public Schools board member has been appointed to finish the term of long-time member Mark Martinez.

Barbara Velazquez, coordinator of international and intercultural education for Metropolitan Community College, will be sworn in on Feb. 17. She will run for the seat in the city’s May primary.

Five candidates interviewed with the school board Wednesday for the post. Subdistrict 7 includes Bryan Middle and Bryan High Schools.


Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Metro/Region - OPS board appoints new member