The Mariposa County Unified School District Board of Trustees will make a choice on who will fill the District 3 seat at its Dec. 17 meeting. The four-member board will have to choose one of two women who want the job. Judy Eppler and Jill Harry, both of Cathey’s Valley, have filed the necessary paperwork to be considered for the job.

The District 3 seat was vacated by Debbie Peters in the beginning of December. Peters resigned from the board because of increased professional responsibilities. There is one year left on the term.

Eppler is a former teacher, counselor, principal and district-level administrator for MCUSD. She spent 43 of her 46 years in public education in the local school district.

While technically retired, she continues to work as an educational consultant. She provides service to the Fresno County Office of Education and is a Williams Compliance Review observer. She serves as an alternative governance board member for the FCOE and Monterey County Office of Education, as well. Eppler also works with the California Department of Education developing the “Taking Center Stage” document that defines exemplary practices for middle schools.

Eppler said her reason for seeking the seat is really one of civic duty. “I have a lot of experience in all facets of education, and if I can help the dis- trict, it’s my obligation to do that,” she said.

Her resume cites more than four decades of educational experience and knowledge of California instructional standards, local, district and state educational requirements and effective classroom procedures.

Eppler says she has seen the district from all sides, as a parent, teacher, principal and director of curriculum. “I think that with the varied experiences and knowledge that I have obtained, I can apply them to our current educational issues,” she wrote in her letter of application. “I can help to bring more than one perspective to the board while working together to solve issues.”

Harry has three young children and has been heavily involved in their education and the workings of the school district for several years. “I believe students should be at the center of everything MCUSD does, and MCUSD’s practices should reflect students’ best interests,” she said. She wants to be a board member because she “wants to make a difference in the lives of our county’s children.”

Harry believes the district’s biggest challenge is the financial stress caused by state reductions and declining enrollment. “My main goal would be to provide students with as many educational opportunities and services as possible given budget limitations,” she wrote in her letter to the current board.

Harry has been a member of the district’s strategic plan committee and hopes to continue to help the district better communicate with the community at large. “Strengthening positive relationships with staff, parents, and the community and inviting increased participation in schools, will help MCUSD have more success in its mission of educating and inspiring all students,” she said.

She is a volunteer at Cathey’s Valley Elementary, a member of the Tobacco Education Coalition and the parent representative on the First 5 Commission. She is also the force behind the Cathey’s Valley preschool. She has been a member of the strategic plan committee since October, 2007.

The board will interview the applicants in open session at tonight’s meeting. Their decision must also be made during the open session. The consideration of the applicants comes very late in the meeting, being item 13.1 of the 19 scheduled.