Kate Miller Appointed to School Board

A new member has been appointed to the Board of Education from the fourth district.
Kate Miller, wife of Billy Miller will be succeeding her husband on the school board.
The county commission voted Monday night to make the appointment. Kate Miller will serve as an appointee until the next regular election in August 2016. At that time, an election will be held to fill the remaining two years of the term.
Billy Miller, who was elected to his second four year term on the board in August, was forced to resign after accepting a new job with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation which does not allow him to hold public office. His resignation from the school board became effective September 30.
Kate Miller’s name was the only one placed in nomination by the county commission Monday night.
As required by law, County Mayor Tim Stribling had a public notice of the vacancy published in the newspaper more than seven days prior to the October County Commission meeting. The notice included the procedure under which the vacancy was to be filled.
According to the County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) before the county commission could take a vote on filling the vacancy, the chair (County Mayor Stribling) was required to allow voters of the county an opportunity to submit names to the county commission for consideration. The names were to be submitted in writing to the chair prior to the meeting or submitted in person at the meeting.
Stribling said Kate Miller was the only person to send him written notification that she was interested in filling the vacancy. He read the letter to the county commission in which she wrote “Dear Mr. Stribling and county commission members. This letter is to inform you of my interest in being appointed to fulfill the term of school board member for the fourth district. The DeKalb County school system has been an integral part of my life for many years. It is not only where I received my education but where my children are also being educated. As the mother of a fourth grader and a seventh grader, I have worked extensively as a parent volunteer. I have had several leadership positions in the PTO and have served as room mother multiple times. I feel like this association to our schools has provided me with a good picture for some of our educational needs. If selected as the board member from the fourth district, I can promise that my every decision will be thoughtfully considered and would be made in the best interest of our children. It would be a real honor to serve on the DeKalb County School Board and I would gladly accept this appointment,” wrote Kate Miller.
Miller was unable to attend Monday night’s meeting.
County Mayor Stribling then opened the floor to give anyone in the audience from the fourth district wanting to be considered for the position a chance to be heard. There were none. Stribling asked if the county commission wished to place any names in nomination. Third district member Jack Barton nominated Kate Miller. There were no other nominations.
Fifth district member Jerry Adcock then asked “Are we going to vote on this tonight?”
County Mayor Stribling answered “It’s up to you (county commission)”.
Adcock said “No I think we need to bring people in and let them interview like we did last time.”
Stribling replied “You’ve got to nominate someone before you bring them in to interview. This is according to CTAS. I can ask our attorney to speak to it.”
“We conferred with CTAS and it’s in the code (state law). This is the way you do it,” said County Attorney Hilton Conger.
Commissioner Barton then moved to cease further nominations. Fourth district commissioner Jonathon Norris seconded the motion. On a voice vote, all voted yes except for Commissioner Adcock.
County Attorney Conger said that if the commission wanted to interview Miller, they could postpone their vote on her appointment. “You do have the option. You don’t have to take your vote tonight if you want to interview,” said Conger
Adcock then said “Alright I’d like to make a motion that we interview”
County Mayor Stribling asked Adcock, “You want to interview Ms. Kate Miller?”
Adcock replied “Or anybody else that wants one”
“Jerry, there’s not anybody else. We’re going to interview Ms. Kate Miller, “answered County Mayor Stribling.
“Then there’s no since in making the motion (to interview),” said Adcock
County Mayor Stribling then called for a roll call on Miller’s appointment to the school board and all county commissioners voted in favor.