The Auburn trustee selection committee can't decide who should run the school.
The committee needs more time to consider candidates for its nine available positions. The announcement of the decision regarding the new trustees has been postponed until Feb. 1. A decision was expected by Sept. 30.
Having a difficult time assessing the 169 candidates, the board of trustees has decided to send out a questionnaire to each nominee.
"The committee just met on Tuesday," said Brian Keeter, Auburn's director of public affairs, "so the questionnaire is just being developed, and once it's developed, the committee will set a deadline for the nominees to hand in the questionnaire."
According to Keeter, the questionnaire "is designed to assist members of the selection committee to gain a better understanding of the nominees' qualifications."
The board expects to distribute it within the next two weeks.
"Once the answers are in from the nominees, the trustees will review them, along with any other information provided by the nominees," Keeter said.
He said this information would culminate in a decision announced before the Alabama Congress sometime in early February.
"All of the candidates are still being considered, but not all for the same position," Keeter said.
Nine of the 12 trustee positions are available and must be filled in the candidate-selection process.
Seven of the current trustees' terms either have expired or will expire this year. Six are up for re-election.
They are James W. Rane, District 3; Virginia N. Thompson, District 3-Lee County; Dwight L. Carlisle, District 4; Sarah B. Newton, District 7; Byron P. Franklin, District 9; and Charles D. McCrary, who holds an at-large seat. Robert E. Lowder, the seventh of the list, withdrew himself from the nomination process May 16.
The other two seats to be filled have been vacant since 2009 and 2010. Since three-fourths of the trustee seats are up for grabs, the overall composition of the board could be drastically affected by the new trustees.
The selection committee consists of two current trustees whose seats aren't open, two representatives of Auburn's alumni and Gov. Robert Bentley. The Alabama Senate must approve the chosen nominees
The selection process has been controversial. Bentley issued a letter March 31 asking worthy candidates to apply for consideration by April 8. By April 18, the selection committee had approved nine nominations to fill the seats.
However, the Alabama Senate refused to take action on the nominations, arguing that the process had been too hurried.
A civil lawsuit filed against the trustee selection committee claimed the nine nominations violated the Open Meetings Act. As a result of the lawsuit, the selection committee decided to restart the process.
Soon after, the Alabama Senate amended the board of trustees' constitution, allowing for a wider range of candidates.
Some argue the process has gone on too long already, while others have praised the extension, suggesting it will lead to more considerate decisions.
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