NEW CUMBERLAND – The Hancock County Board of Education is searching for a new member.

Following its hiring of board member Gerard Spencer as the new Hancock County Schools coordinator of safety services on March 10, the remaining board members met Thursday to officially accept Spencer’s resignation from his seat on the school board and begin the process of finding a replacement.

Superintendent Dan Enich read a letter from Spencer, thanking the board, the teachers and staff of Hancock County Schools, and the voters for electing him.

Spencer was elected to the board in 2022, representing the Butler District of Hancock County.

“We reluctantly accept the resignation of Mr. Gerard Spencer,” board President Chris Gillette said.

Spencer was not in attendance for Thursday’s meeting, but Gillette extended his thanks, saying Spencer’s career in law enforcement and involvement in other aspects of the community brought “a unique position” to the board.

While Spencer is leaving the board, he soon will begin his service to the school district as its first coordinator of safety services, a position created by the school board in February.

“We’re losing him being here every two weeks, but we’re gaining him five days a week,” Enich said.

Gillette noted, in the last 10 years, there have been three instances where a seat on the board has had to be filled – two because of resignations, and one time because of the death of a member – and, traditionally, the board has looked for a replacement from within the district of the previous member.

Board member Randy Swartzmiller, though, noted state code stipulates, as long as there already aren’t two members in a district, residents from those areas can be considered.

“Under state code, it can come from any district that doesn’t have two members,” Swartzmiller said.

As a result, in this instance, Swartzmiller said the new member may come from either Butler District or Grant District.

Of the remaining members of the board, Swartzmiller represents Grant, Gillette represents Butler, with Clay represented by Ed Fields and Jim Horstman.

According to the advertisement, a copy of which was provided by Enich, “The Hancock County (WV) Board of Education is seeking an applicant to fill the unexpired term of a board member which became vacant on 3/10/25. Any interested Hancock County (WV) resident can send a letter of interest to Chris Gillette, President of the Hancock County Board of Education. Please send that letter to 164 Valley Way, Weirton, WV 26062. Those letters need to reach Mr. Gillette by Friday March 28, 2025. If you have any questions, please call 724-554-4199.”

Applications for the seat will be accepted, beginning today.

A special meeting, to interview applicants, has tentatively been set for March 28, at a time to be determined.