Hastings back on New Berlin School Board

New Berlin - Keith Hastings, who resigned from the New Berlin School Board on June 1, was back on the board as of last week.

When Hastings resigned, he said his work commitments had increased so much that they made it impossible for him to give enough time to the job of School Board member.

In his time away from the board, he has explored other career possibilities, some that he could not explore as a board member.

Finally, he decided he needed to make a bigger change, Hastings said, and his full-time employment will close at the end of the month. That leaves him with time to devote to board work, he said.

"I'm sure it seems strange," he said to the board about asking to fill his own vacancy. "It seems strange to me, too."

After his resignation, the School Board decided to appoint someone to fill Hastings' term, which expires in April 2013. Hastings followed the board's procedure to fill the vacancy by sending in a resume with a letter of intent. The board interviewed him Monday and appointed him.

Board member Art Marquardt said, "Two weeks ago, I was thinking in favor of leaving the seat empty."

Only one person had applied and was interviewed before Hastings inquired about getting his seat back.

But now, Marquardt said, the person whom voters originally chose was before him and he made the motion to return Hastings to his seat.

Similarly, board member Tom David said, "He'll hit the ground running and knows how the board works."

The board asked Hastings the same eight questions in the interview that it asked the other candidate.

Hastings has two children at New Berlin West Middle/High School.