By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
ELLIS — Following the departure of Mike Gaschler from the Ellis USD 388 Board of Education in May, the board selected D.J. Fischer to fill the remainder of the term at its regular meeting this week.
Fisher will serve until the end of next year.
Fisher was one of two candidates the board interviewed for the position during the meeting. Amy Hudson was the second candidate.
Each board member asked both candidates a question before making the selection.
In response to a question about retaining and attracting teachers to the district, Fisher said agreed with Hudson that a relationship with Fort Hays State University is important.
He also said that Ellis has a great group of educators already in the district and keeping them is important to keep a good learning environment.
When asked what the most challenging issue the board will face this year, Fisher said COVID-19.
“We have to get through that and the mask issue, the virus issue and keeping our teachers we have here," he said. "We have to keep everybody here and move forward with the kids, give them a good environment to live in and move forward.”
During the interview, Fisher said he would like to see everything get up to date maintenance-wise in the district. He also said he is supportive of a bond issue.
The board was planning to move forward with a bond issue before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would like to see those move forward,” Fisher said.
He also said students should have access to as much technology as the district could provide to aid in their education.
Fisher said he belives students should drive the district’s plans moving forward and should be focused on giving students what they need to be successful in the workforce.
But community involvement in district starts with parents, he said.
“Parents, it starts with the parents,” Fisher said. “Kids listen to everything the parents do. Parents have got to start with the kids early on and push them all the way through to the end.”
Fisher told the board a primary reason he wanted to serve was his own children in the district.
“I’ve got a junior girl in high school. I’ve got a seventh-grade boy coming up. I want them to have a great learning environment. I want them to have the best life that they can,” he said.
Following the questioning, board President Jared Schiel told the candidates he though both candidates did well during the interview.
That sentiment was echoed among other board members.
“We can’t go wrong. We appreciate both of you being here,” said Marty Hollern, board member.
After Schiel called for a motion for action on the candidates, Hudson was nominated first but fell shy of the required votes to take the seat.
Fisher was nominated next and was unanimously approved by the board.
Fisher then joined the board for the remainder of the meeting.