Johnson County board appoints two members after candidate forum; oaths administered

The Johnson County School District #1 Board of Trustees on May 20 appointed Katie Engling and Tamitha Graven to fill two board vacancies and administered the oath of office. Trustees conducted a short candidate forum, allowed each applicant two to three minutes to introduce themselves, then used a two-vote-per-member hand-count to select the two new trustees.

The chair explained the procedure and said each seated board member would cast two votes to fill two chairs. After counting raised hands, the chair announced that Katie Engling and Tamitha Graven received the necessary support and directed them to take the oath. Both appointees stood at the dais and repeated the oath to uphold U.S. and state constitutions and district policies before taking their seats.

Engling, who said she has taught early childhood for 12 years and currently works at the local hospital, told trustees she was eager to learn and serve the community. Graven described herself as a longtime business owner with experience in operations and budgeting and said she would prioritize student safety and put children first. Both candidates said they would be willing to learn district policies and work with staff and law enforcement on issues such as the newly permitted concealed-carry statute.

The appointment process filled two immediate vacancies; the board noted more community members remain interested in future service. The chair closed the item after welcoming the new members and moving on to the evening’s remaining agenda.