The Sioux City School board today selected Philip Hamman to fill the vacant Sioux City School Board position. Hamman is filling Perla Alarcon-Flory’s seat until the November election. Alarcon-Flory left her seat to move to Arkansas with her family due to the Dakota Dunes Tyson closure.
Hamman was selected on second ballot. Thirteen other candidates submitted their names for the interim board position. He was chosen by the board in a 4-2 vote with Board Members Bob Michaelson, Jan George, Dan Greenwell and Taylor Goodvin voting in favor of him in the final round of balloting. The decision came after only two rounds of voting.
Hamman joins George, Michaelson and Scolaro as former Sioux City Schools employees on the board. Sioux City Community Inclusion Liaison Semehar Ghebrekidan received two votes from Board Members Monique Scarlett and Bernie Scolaro.
Hamman was a teacher at East High School for 37 years in special education and retired this May. He plans to continue as a substitute teacher in the coming years.
Hamman told the board the focus of the district should be on raising reading, writing and math scores. Hamman also said he wants to do more to support special education and English Language Learner students.
