HOWARD — With 10 people interested in taking the position, the East Knox Board of Education filled the vacant board seat at Monday’s special meeting.
Dean Opfer of Howard was sworn in by treasurer Jessica Busenburg, with the meeting lasting only three minutes.
The board seat was left vacant by former board member Matt Schwartz, who resigned May 11 citing recent interpersonal conflicts with his pastorship and being a board of education member.
Those interested in the position were interviewed June 1 by board members during a special board meeting.
This wasn’t Opfer’s first interest in joining the East Knox Board of Education. He once ran for a board seat but couldn’t remember the year.
“I think that I have a skill set that could be useful for the community and hopefully that’s the case,” Opfer said.
Opfer has been in the financial service industry for 26 years, he said, managing at one time 120 people at Chase Bank and running two local businesses.
Opfer added both he and his wife volunteer for the district — for example, going door-to-door for the district’s 2019 levy for the new high school building.
“(Opfer) has been involved with us from as far as getting the new school building built and gaining that levy support,” board member Derrick Steinmetz said. “He’s been a strong contributor to this district for several years now.”
Opfer’s term ends Dec. 31, 2023. He plans to run for the seat in November’s election.
