Hurless to replace Cowan on VWCS bd.

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education chose Cindy Hurless to replace Ben Cowan on the board during a special meeting held Monday morning in the S.F. Goedde Building conference room.

Hurless is currently vice president of customer services for Central Insurance Companies and is on the Management Committee at Central. She also is an officer of the company and was plant manager of the Van Wert Federal-Mogul manufacturing facility before taking the Central position. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business/communication from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

In addition, she has been a school parent or volunteer for 24 years, actively participated in the fundraising drive for the Niswonger Performing Arts Center/athletic complex project, and was actively involved in the levy campaign that allows the school district to purchase the land where Van Wert High School-Middle School and Van Wert Elementary School are now located.

Board President Mike Morrow said the four candidates for Cowan’s position were “very qualified”, but noted that Hurless’ communications experience was a strong factor in her favor.

“It was interesting the breadth of experience that they brought to the table,” Morrow said of the four candidates. “One of the things that we knew we were looking at doing, based upon a lot of conversations we’ve had recently in the district with image, and marketing and public relations, that we were really looking to bring somebody on the board that had some experience in that area, since many of us don’t and the administration didn’t have a lot of time for that.

“Really, in the final analysis, when we looked at all the candidates and what they could bring to the table, immediately that’s what set Cindy apart,” Morrow added. “We’re real excited to have her on the board; she brings a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge, a lot of knowledge, energy, passion for this and, obviously, we think she’ll hit the ground running.”

The board president also noted that any of the candidates would have made good board members, and he expected at least one or two of them to file petitions to seek the office when current board members come up for re-election.

In her application, Hurless noted that she felt her financial, strategic planning, problem solving and communications skills would be a good fit for a position on the school board.

“I have a strong desire to assist in ensuring our system continues its track record of excellence,” Hurless wrote in the application. “I plan on staying involved and actively help solve the many issues facing school systems today.