SCHOOL BOARD WILL QUESTION CANDIDATES

Interviews are next for the eight applicants who hope to fill the
vacant 5th District Richmond School Board seat. The public is invited.

The School Board will hold interviews for the position during a
special open session Monday starting at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Board members will submit questions. Debora R. Johns, the board's
deputy clerk, will ask each of the applicants the same questions.

The board plans to hold closed-door discussions about the candidates
before voting to select an interim representative April 3.

The deadline has passed to apply for the seat, which became available
when Stephen B. Johnson resigned this month.

Johnson had been caught with marijuana at Richmond International
Airport. He admitted the drugs were his and said they were for
medicinal use. He was not charged with a crime.

Johnson's replacement will fill the remainder of his term, which runs
until the end of the year. The seat comes with an annual stipend of
$10,000 and will be filled for a four-year term in the November election.