Last month South Bend School Board members voted to oust Superintendent Dr. Robert Zimmerman. Now, the jobs of some board members are at stake.

Four of the seven school board seats are up for grabs in November. Wednesday marked the first day for interested persons to file their candidacies.

“I’d like to go on the record saying its imperative that the school board wait until after the election to hire a new superintendent,” said Kyle Chamberlin who was the first to file today.

“I'm 24 years of age but I think I can bring a fresh face to the board, some energy.” Kyle Chamberlin filed for an at large seat on the board.

Chamberlin is a Notre Dame graduate, who is now attending the N.D. Law School

“When that all went down,” Chamberlin said, “I knew that, just from reading the paper, the community was ready for a change.”

Incumbent third district representative William Sniadecki filed for re-election today. He too, bristles at the thought that the same board that fired Zimmerman last month, would move to hire a replacement.

“I don’t want to cause no, anymore conflict than there is already, but they didn’t listen to the public,” said Sniadecki. “They’re talking about another search and want to get the community involved, well the community was, we got exactly what the community asked for with Dr. Zimmerman.”

The list of candidates will eventually include a man who used to be the Mayor of South Bend.

“I’m going to file in the next ten days or so, I’m on vacation right now,” said Roger Parent from his South Bend office.

Parent served as South Bend Mayor from 1980 until 1988. During that time he single handedly decided who would serve on the school board, because it was his job to appoint some of its members.

Now the board is an elected body, and Parent will seek an at large seat.

“Obviously if I felt that the current school board members had done an outstanding job, I wouldn’t be running,” said Parent.

Parent said he was asked to run two years ago, but declined. This time, he believes the time is right.

“I have a master’s degree in education, and my experience in the political arena is not insignificant, said Parent. “The ability to work with people--for groups to work together.”

A total of six candidates filed their paperwork today. Vying for two at large seats are Paula Witherspoon, Kyle Chamberlin, and Joseph Adams, Jr.

In the district three race, incumbent William Sniadecki filed for re-election, while Rosalie Marie Emma-Sullivan filed as a challenger.

In district four, incumbent Dawn Jones filed her candidacy.

The filing period ends at noon on August 22nd.