KEARNEY, Neb. — A woman with experience as a business owner and with local nonprofit boards will be the newest member of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education.

The school district announced Wednesday that the board selected Amy Barth to fill a vacant post. She replaces Dave Brandt, who resigned in January to take a job as a teacher in the district.

Barth is the owner of Just for Ladies Fitness and works as an audit manager at Countryman Associates. She has served on the board of directors for the Yanney Heritage Foundation and the United Way of the Kearney Area. The board picked her out of a pool of 12 applicants.

“Amy’s unique blend of professional experience, community involvement, and a clear vision for the future of KPS distinguished her as the ideal choice,” board president Steve Gaasch said in a statement.

Barth will serve the remainder of Brandt’s term, which runs through the end of the year. According to a news release, she plans to seek election for the term starting in 2025.

“I am deeply invested in ensuring our policies reflect the values of our families and community,” Barth said. “My vision includes expanding our educational offerings to incorporate niche disciplines such as social media, graphic design, engineering, and artificial intelligence, addressing the need for additional schools to accommodate growth, and prioritizing the safety and well-being of our students.”

Barth’s first Board of Education meeting will be Monday, March 11, 2024, at 5:30 pm at the KPS Administration Building.