By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Hays USD 489 board member Sarah Rankin remains the only school board member who has confirmed she will run in the April 7 school board elections.

Though she has yet to officially file with the Ellis County Clerk’s office, Rankin confirmed to Hays Post she will run to retain her seat following Monday’s BOE work session.

Rankin was appointed to the BOE by fellow board members in April to replace Darren Schumacher, who vacated the seat due to a job relocation.

The three other seats up for re-election this year are those of current board President James Leiker, board Vice President Marty Patterson and Past President Greg Schwartz.

Schwartz, who at 11 years has served on the board the longest, admitted Monday he does have an application sitting on his desk, but is not ready to officially file or announce his decision.

Both Leiker and Patterson said they too have not made final decisions on whether to run again.

“We will see what happens,” Leiker said.

The deadline to file for the April 7 election is noon Jan. 27.

Applications can be picked up at the Ellis County Clerk’s office. For more information, contact the clerk’s office at (785) 628-9410.