After residents petitioned to make the position elected, instead of appointed, Davenport will hold a special election to fill a vacancy on the school board.
The vacant board position was previously held by Maria Dickman, who now serves on the Davenport City Council. Residents petitioned to force an election to fill the vacancy; otherwise, the board could appoint someone to serve the rest of Dickman's term.
The petition required at least 390 signatures; supporters said they gathered nearly double that number before the petition deadline.
The school board approved a special election to be held February 16, 2016, to fill the vacancy.
The deadline to submit candidate papers was 5 p.m. Friday, January 22. The following seven people submitted candidate papers: Clyde Ray Mayfield, Erika Kall, Andrew DeNoyer, Bruce Werning, Elaine Kresse, Megan Long, and Ileaser S. Parker-Tatum.
On that day, the board announced voting center sites for the special election. They are:
VC1 - Blue Grass Public Safety Building, 606 W. Mayne Street in Blue Grass
VC2 - St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 2363 W. 3rd Street in Davenport
VC3 - United Neighbors, 808 Harrison Street in Davenport
VC4 - C.A.S.I., 1035 W. Kimberly Road in Davenport
VC5 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 415 W. 53rd Street in Davenport
VC6 - Duck Creek Park Lodge, 3300 E. Locust Street in Davenport
VC7 - Scott Community College/West Davenport Center, 2950 N. Fairmount Street in Davenport
VC8 - Unitarian Church, 3707 Eastern Avenue in Davenport