Dec 6, 2013 By Susan Schmeichel 2 min read

Bethel Park School Board on Dec. 6 tapped a former school director to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Ron Sustich.

By a vote of 7-1, the board appointed Charles Scheuble to fill the term, which expires November 2015. Voting in opposition was board member Pam Dobos. Dobos, who placed the names of both her former running mates, John DeLallo and Tom Majernik, in nomination, cast her vote for DeLallo.

Scheuble served as a school director from 2005 to 2011.

The candidate’s previous experience and the fact that Scheuble already knew the job was one of the reasons he voted for the candidate, said board member David Amaditz.

District officials said five residents submitted resumes for consideration for the seat. Only Scheuble, DeLallo and Majernik participated in the interview process.

The interviews, which took place during a public meeting, consisted of each candidate giving a five minute introduction listing their qualifications. They were then each required to give one-minute answers to the same three questions from the board.

Board members also considered the applications of the two candidates who did not participate in the interview process.

Jim Means, a member of the board, said the district was forced to accelerate the process of filling Sustich’s seat because of a time crunch in part attributed to the holidays.

Sustich resigned on Nov. 20 and state law allows districts only 30 days to fill a seat, Means explained. In addition, the attendance of five board members is required to appoint a new member.

“We only had 30 days to appoint a new member or the courts could take over (and appoint someone), and we don’t want that,” Means said.