NORMAN — After more than two hours of closed-door debate, the Norman Public Schools Board of Education appointed Donald K. Shandy to Office No. 4, during a special board meeting Wednesday afternoon.
“This has probably been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make while being on the board,” said board member Darry Stacy.
Shandy, one of eight contenders for the position, will be sworn into office during the board’s next regular meeting on July 19 and will serve until the board’s annual election on Feb. 8, 2011.
“I’m quite flattered,” said Shandy, after he received a phone call from board President Joe Sparks earlier relaying the news. “I’m looking forward to constructively working with the board and to help them improve on a job I think they have already done quite well.”
Former board member Brooks Hull resigned from the post in May to accept a job at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He vacated the position June 30 and has since moved to Texas.
During the last couple weeks, the board has conducted individual, 30-minute interviews with each of the candidates, before making its selection.
The eight candidates included Gary Barksdale, 412 W. Mimosa Drive; Tracy Bates, 3720 Timberidge; Robert M. Castleberry, 4701 Wind Rush Circle; Kim Gaddie, 3801 Chamberlyne Way; Donald K. Shandy, 3704 Calais Court; Bonner Slayton, 4001 Ripple Ave.; Debra L. Stuart, 4610 Timberidge Circle, and Chuck R. Thompson, 4519 Chukkar Court.
“That was hard,” board member Linda Sexton said after the meeting adjourned. “It took us two hours to have this discussion and that is because it was not clear-cut or easy.”
While in executive session, board member Dan Snell said the board sparred over which candidate was the most “selfless,” a qualifier eventually deemed null and void, since all were considered altruistic.
“He’s a great guy,” Snell said of Shandy. “But so were the other candidates.”
Shandy, 50, received his juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma’s College of Law in 1985 and his bachelor of arts degree in political science, also from OU, in 1982. He is a partner at Oklahoma City-based Ryan Whaley Coldiron Shandy PLLC.
According to the company’s website, Shandy is an expert in air pollution and environmental law and has 20 years of experience representing Oklahoma, regional and national clients in the Clean Air Act and other environmental matters.
Superintendent Joe Siano said the board’s favor leaned toward Shandy’s legal think and environmental background.
“I think diversity is very important at being able to arrive at good decisions,” said Shandy, who said the district’s financial situation is the paramount issue he plans to tackle while on the board. “My background is different than the other folks, and I think that’s a good thing.”
Sealing the deal, Snell said, were Shandy’s deep ties to Norman and the district. Two of his four children have graduated from Norman North High School, and the other two are current students.
“Getting down to one name almost didn’t happen,” said Sexton, referencing the unexpected pronounced interest in the seat. “But we got there.”
Nanette Light 366-3541 nlight@normantranscript.com
