Applicants sought for Enge's open school board seat

The Carson City School District will begin accepting applications Friday to fill the seat left vacant when trustee Joe Enge resigned following his second alcohol-related arrest this year.

District officials had been hesitant to accept the resignation because it was drafted by a third party and signed by Enge while he was in jail on Thursday.

However, Richard Stokes said during Tuesday's board meeting that confirmation had been made with Enge during the weekend.

Anyone living within the boundaries of district 3 who is interested in the position can drop off a letter of interest along with a resume at the Carson City School District Office, 1402 W. King St., by 5 p.m. Sept. 1.

District 3 is in east Carson City with Old Hot Springs Road roughly forming the boundary to the north and East Musser Street on the south. Highway 395 forms the western boundary with Saliman Road mostly along the eastern edge.

Applicants will be interviewed at the Sept. 8 school board meeting, and a trustee will be chosen then.

Enge, 46, is a former Carson High School history teacher and was elected to a four-year term on the school board in 2006.

Enge was arrested at 2:32 a.m. Thursday on suspicion of probation violation when he blew .174 on a breathalyzer test, more than double the legal limit.

After pleading guilty on March 24 to drunken driving on Jan. 29, he was serving a suspended 179-day sentence during which he was prohibited from using drugs or alcohol.

Enge bailed out of jail Tuesday morning. A pretrial hearing will be

9 a.m. Aug. 19 in Justice Court.

In response to his first arrest earlier this year, fellow trustees unanimously cast a formal vote requesting he resign his position on the board.

He refused, saying it was a personal matter.

The person replacing Enge will have to run for re-election in 2010.

This will be the second time this year the school board has had to fill a vacant spot. The board filled Bob Crowell's spot in January after he resigned after being elected mayor.

Lynnette Conrad was selected from 12 applicants.

Stokes said he's hoping for a similar community response this time.

"There's a lot of satisfaction in helping to guide the direction of the school district," he said. "It's a good opportunity to make a difference and be involved."

Trustees receive a stipend of $400 a month, meeting on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, along with other meetings scheduled when appropriate.

Stokes said interested applicants should call the district office at 283-2100 or stop by the district office and look at the map to verify they live within the boundaries.