By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point Police Chief Kevin Ruder announced on Thursday he’s applying for an empty seat on the School Board.

“People keep asking me if I’m crazy,” Ruder said, laughing. “I hate to sound like I’m the all-good here, but having watched some of the meetings and how things are done, I think I can contribute a little bit, and it’s made me put aside the fact that it’s going to be kind of pain at time, and a lot of extra work. I know I can contribute in a positive way.”

The School Board came under heavy scrutiny over the past year arguing between individual Board Members as well as complaints against Superintendent Attila Weninger occurred during public meetings. Weninger has since tendered his resignation effective at the end of the next school year.

Board Member Renae Sheibley also submitted her resignation, effective at the end of May, for undisclosed reasons.

Ruder, whose daughter recently graduated from SPASH, said he first gave serious consideration to applying for the vacant seat after news of Sheibley’s resignation became public.

Ruder said he’s already familiar with meeting procedure and has a unique insight into some of the problems area schools face, but he’s not lost on the concept of a perceived conflict of interest.

“The only conflict I could come up with was if the board had to deal with anything having to do with security, or if there was any question on the table relating to any police liaison officers. And I would obviously abstain from that vote.”

Ruder said he informed the Police & Fire Commission last week of his intention to apply for the seat.

“What I bring to the table are not only my experiences as an administrator but also my experience working within the school system as an educator for a number of school programs in the past,” he said.

Ruder said he hadn’t discussed his intentions with other Board Members prior to making his decision.

The School Board will discuss filling the empty board seat, along with its search for a new superintendent, at its June 9 meeting.