The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees on May 29 confirmed Jamie Winfrey as the teacher representative for Polk Avenue Elementary and voted to fill board-select seat 7 with Keith Thompson.

The approvals came during the regular meeting following a work session in which trustees reviewed four board-select nominees for seat 7: Keith Thompson, T.J. McKeehan, Scott Thompson and Skip Alford. The board-select seats, the board explained earlier in the work session, are filled by trustee nomination rather than by PTO/SAC selection.

Why it matters: Seat 7 is a board-select position intended to preserve continuity on the board; the appointment shifts the composition of the board as the district prepares to complete a superintendent search and finalize the next fiscal-year budget.

Trustees considered background information and personal recommendations for nominees during the work session. One trustee recounted community-service and system involvement for Dr. T.J. McKeehan, noting years of local service, leadership on the Lake Wales Charter Foundation and long-term business ownership in Lake Wales. Other trustees described Keith Thompson’s public-service background, his role as a city commissioner and his past work with capital projects and impact-fee advocacy.

During the regular meeting Trustee Doctor Hutto moved to appoint Jamie Winfrey as the Polk Avenue teacher representative; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Later a motion to appoint Keith Thompson to seat 7 was moved by Doctor Hutto and seconded by Trustee Tanya; the board recorded four yes votes and three nays and the motion carried. The board recorded the three opposing votes by name during the roll call as Andy, Brian and Lori; the board announced the final tally as four yes, three no.

Discussion vs. decision: Trustees aired endorsements and background information about nominees in the work session; the formal appointment of Thompson was the board’s official action taken in the regular meeting.

What’s next: Thompson will assume the responsibilities of seat 7. Trustees indicated they had received nominees’ biographical materials and resumes before the vote.