By CASSANDRA MICKENS / Associate Editor

HOOVER — Eight people have submitted applications to fill a seat on the Hoover Board of Education being vacated by board President Paulette Pearson.

The applicants are Max Harbuck, a managing partner for Lakeshore Financial Partners LLC; Doug Hildreth, a furniture manager for Big Lots in Hoover and a former Hoover City Schools bus driver; Craig Kelly, vice president at Dunkin-Lewis Inc.; Guy Locker, assistant operations manager for SouthWest Water Inc.; Kadie Whatley Peters, vice president of community impact for health at United Way of Central Alabama; Stephanie Schambeau, an insurance coordinator for Schambeau Dental Care in Bessemer; Arnold Singer, a retiree and former principal technical coordinator for Edison Township, N.J. ; and Terry Turner, a partner with the Gentle, Turner, Sexton, Debrosse and Harbinson law firm in Hoover.

The applicants, all Hoover residents, have children, grandchildren or relatives who worked for, attend or have graduated from Hoover schools. In addition, many of the applicants cited finances as a critical issue facing the school board, which has experienced growing student enrollment and declining government revenue.

This past December, the school board rescinded its controversial decision to cut bus service in the 2014-2015 school year. The school board first voted to cut bus service last July in an effort to save $2.5 million annually and alleviate financial strain.

The Hoover City Council is charged with appointing one of the eight applicants to fill Pearson’s seat. The council usually appoints a school board member each April. The new appointee will start his or her five-year term in June.