photo by: Journal-World

Lawrence Public Schools district offices pictured in April 2021.

The Lawrence school board has received eight applications to fill the vacant seat of recently resigned board member Kay Emerson and will soon meet to select which applicants they want to interview.

The board will discuss the applications and select applicants to interview at a special meeting on Tuesday. The interviews and selection of the person to fill the seat will take place at a subsequent meeting.

The eight applicants are as follows, and their applications with their responses to various questions posed by the school board are available as part of the board’s agenda materials.

• Paul L. Carttar

• Rebekah Gaston

• Rachel I. Thomas

• Anne Costello

• Milton Scott

• Robert A. Byers (Bob)

• Jeni Daley

• Daniel Businger

Emerson announced on May 26 that she was resigning her seat to pursue an opportunity in another community. Her term began in 2022 and was scheduled to run through 2025.

The Lawrence school board approved a process to fill the vacant seat on May 31. Under the approved process and schedule, the district posted the vacancy notice and application on June 6 and set a deadline of 5 p.m. on June 13 for submissions. Following the selection of applicants to interview on Tuesday, the board will interview the selected candidates and appoint one to serve out the remainder of Emerson’s term as part of its regular meeting on June 26. Emerson’s term ends on Jan. 12, 2026. The person will be sworn in on July 10.

The board will convene at 6 p.m. at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.