Michael Woodland named to Nazareth Area School Board

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Michael Woodland, of Upper Nazareth, this evening was named to the Nazareth Area School Board, filling the seat of late board member Thomas Maher.


Maher, 61, died Nov. 30. He ran unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election and last month was scheduled to be sworn in to a four-year term.

Woodland, co-owner of Dan's Camera City, was selected in a 5-1 vote to represent Region 2, which covers the eastern district of Upper Nazareth Township and all of Lower Nazareth Township.

"I think that he will work and interact very well with the current board and be a complement," Board President Lorin Bradley said. "There was a level of comfortableness that he had as a candidate with the majority of the board."

Board member Chris Miller voted against selecting Woodland to the board and instead nominated candidate Hayden Phillips. Board members voted against bringing Phillips on board in a 5-1 vote.


The board initially received seven letters of interest in the position, however, two candidates withdrew interest. That left five candidates to be interviewed during a special meeting held before the public. Interviews lasted about 15 minutes each, Bradley said.

Bradley said he appreciated the interest of all the candidates and described the selection process as being a "tough decision."


"Obviously in this situation, it's an unfortunate situation with the passing of a board member," he said. "I think we were fortunate there were several individuals that came forward that met the qualifications and would have contributed in some way to the board process and the Board of Education."


Woodland now will be able to run in the next municipal election against anyone else who may file to run. Whoever wins the election would finish the remaining time on Maher's original term.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2012/01/michael_woodland_named_to_naza.html