By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Pelham leaders have seen a “good bit of interest” from those interested in serving on the city’s first school board, according to City Council President Rick Hayes.

Hayes said applications for the school board have been coming in from “multiple sources,” and noted the city will accept applications through Monday, Oct. 7.

“My goal is to have a good 15 applications to choose from,” Hayes said, noting city leaders are looking for a wide range of expertise among those selected for the school board. “There are so many things we have to consider in assembling this team.

“We not only need a diverse group, but a group that can work together,” Hayes added. “We want to find five people who are absolutely dedicated to the future of our children.”

During its Sept. 9 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to create a Pelham school board, and to work toward separating from the Shelby County School System to form an independent Pelham city school system.

In mid-September, the city announced it had begun accepting applications from those serving on the five-member board. Since then, applicants have been submitting resumés to City Clerk Marsha Yates and City Council members.

Because the applications were being collected by multiple sources, Hayes said he could not yet verify the total number of applications received.

After the application period ends on Oct. 7, the council will compile the applications and begin reviewing them and checking references, Hayes said. The council has a regular meeting scheduled for the night of Oct. 7, but Hayes said council members are not planning to review the applications during the meeting.

“It won’t be before the meeting on the seventh, but probably during the next work session (on Oct. 21),” Hayes said. “We will plan out a process of what we are going to do.”