David Collins, left, is sworn in as the new GMG District 2 Director during a special school board meeting held in the Green Mountain Library on June 1. Collins replaces Randy Sienknecht who resigned in May. PHOTO COURTESY OF GMG SCHOOLS/FACEBOOK

GREEN MOUNTAIN – GMG’s school board has another new face among its directors’ ranks following a special meeting held on June 1.

David Collins of Garwin was appointed during a meeting held last week Thursday to fill an open board seat left vacant following former board president Randy Sienknecht’s resignation. The meeting was held in the Green Mountain Library.

Sienknecht resigned in early May from his District 2 director position which encompasses the former Garwin school district.

During a special board meeting held on May 18, the school board provided notice of its intent to fill the vacancy by appointment during the June 1 special meeting.

Collins was the only individual to show interest in the position, board secretary Stacey Duden told the Sun Courier. His seat will be up for election this fall during the Tuesday, November 7 combined city/school election.

In a statement addressing his resignation, Sienknecht cited other commitments as his main reason for stepping down.

“My other commitments have become too great for me to be able to fulfill the requirements of my position to the Board, and I feel it is best for me to make room for someone with the time and energy to devote to the job,” Sienknecht wrote.

Following his resignation, board member Ann Jackson was sworn in as the new board president during the May 18 meeting. Board members Justin Hornberg and Jackie Stonewall were both nominated to be vice president with Hornberg receiving four votes to Stonewall’s two votes; Hornberg was subsequently sworn in as the new vice president.

GMG school board members now include president Ann Jackson, vice-president Justin Hornberg, Jill Roberts, Kristine Kienzle, Doug Dieleman, Jackie Stonewall, and David Collins.

The next regular meeting of the GMG school board is set for Wednesday, June 22, in Garwin beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The board is scheduled to hold another special meeting on June 29 during which Travis Squires from Piper Sandler and Michael Kalvig from Central Rivers AEA will discuss the district’s financial ability to potentially fund needed updates to its facilities.