Though her attempt to gain a seat on the Sharon City School Board during the November election was unsuccessful, Joyce Grimenstein will sit on the board for the next two years as an appointed member.

Directors interviewed three potential candidates Thursday for the vacancy left by Nick Morocco who will serve as the city's controller. In addition to Ms. Grimenstein, directors interviewed Christopher Gavin and Melody Wilson.

The candidates were asked five prepared questions about why they want the position, their experience, qualities they feel are important in a board member and the role of a board member.

Ms. Grimenstein, 61, is a retired academic principal and guidance counselor from the district. She said she wanted the position because she believes in public education and spent her life working for public education. She said she thinks she has "full working knowledge of the needs of the district."

Gavin, 50, a retired Navy veteran with a biology background who now works at Wheatland Tube, said he has three kids in the district and three who graduated from the district. He said he's interested in providing students with a good education that is also fiscally responsible considering the tax base.

Ms. Wilson, 37, a graduate of Sharon City Schools, now works for Gateways to Better Living in Mahoning County, Ohio, and has two daughters in the district. She said she wants to give back to the district, has experience working with administrators and teachers and believes she would be a good role model. Ms. Wilson said she spent nine years working with Mercer County Children and Youth Services and Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

All the candidates said they believe board members need to be honest, diverse, have integrity and work as a team.

Finances, curriculum and contract negotiations were issues they said they think the district will face in the upcoming year.

All three noted experience with contracts. Ms. Grimenstein said she was a negotiator for more than 28 years. Ms. Wilson said has been a contract negotiator for several different groups. Gavin said he has worked on union contracts.

Director Kathy Hall asked Gavin and Ms. Wilson why they did not run in the election. Gavin said he had problems that prevented him from running while Ms. Wilson said she did not have time to devote to an election.

Directors Melvin Bandzak, Sandra Sigler-Hoover, Richard Mancino, Dominick Russo, Linda Valentino and Mrs. Hall voted for Ms. Grimenstein while President Lora Adams-King and Pam Corini voted for Miss Wilson.

Parent Ann Lepak voiced her concern that the application deadline for the vacant seat was not well advertised.