PERRY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CHOSEN

Tom Wesolek is the newest member of the Perry County School District Board of Education.

On Wednesday the six other members of the school board chose him to replace Carol Laws, a board member who resigned after her husband took a job in Kansas. Her term would have expired in April 2000. Wesolek's term is only guaranteed until next April, when voters will elect someone to fill the rest of the three-year term.

The board chose Wesolek from among five applicants: Debbie Balsman, Larry Jones, David Ernst, Wayne Keller and Wesolek.

Board president Dennis Martin said the majority of the board agreed that all five were qualified. Martin intends to appoint two committees soon -- one to examine raising test scores and the other to address improving special services. He said he would give the four not chosen for the board opportunities to serve on those committees.

All five candidates said in interviews with a reporter before the selection that they were pleased with the board and administration. Wesolek said he didn't run against Laws and Martin in April because he "probably would have voted for them" over himself.

Wesolek, a senior customer-service representative at Solar Communications, has two children in elementary school.

Martin said one reason the board chose Wesolek is that only one of the board members -- John McDaniel -- has a child in elementary school. The others have children attending middle and high school, Martin said.

Martin said the fact that Wesolek had previously run for school board helped. "We wanted someone we knew was willing to run in an election," Martin said.

Wesolek was one of five candidates running for three seats in April 1996. He finished last.

A Perryville resident for five years, Wesolek has been active in the public schools, serving on the committee making recommendations on character education and the committee on improving standardized test scores.

He could not be reached for comment.