The Marshalltown School Board appointed Nicolas “Niko” Aguirre to replace board member Ross Harris in a unanimous vote Tuesday.

Aguirre, the JBS Marshalltown human resources director, was chosen among three applicants at the special meeting. The other applicants were Ashtyn Beek and John Johnson.

District Director of Business Operations and Board Secretary Paulette Newbold collected ballots from each of the five present board members and announced Aguirre had the majority of votes.

“I’m a servant-leader,” Aguirre said during his public interview. “I have a heart for the masses.”

Aguirre said he relates to many of the children and families in the district. His father immigrated to the United States in the mid-1970s, making him a first-generation American.

He said he views the district’s dual-language program and partnerships with area business and industry as areas of strength. Aguirre also said he feels the district has had a focus on being proactive and positive.

“I love that the district put in there the ‘positive mindset,'” he said, referring to the district’s mission statement.

With Tuesday’s vote, Aguirre will serve as the seventh board member for at least the four months left in Harris’ term.

Harris announced he was stepping down in June for medical reasons. Aguirre’s seat, as well as those of board Vice President Janelle Carter and members Ben Fletcher and Sean Heitmann will be up for election in November.

Marshalltown School Board members serve the community at-large and each seat carries a four-year term.

Beek and Johnson both made their cases for the spot Tuesday. Beek works as an academic adviser at Iowa State University and his wife works as a teacher in the district. His two children also attend Marshalltown Schools.

Johnson is a former school board member and has two children and one grandchild in the district.

The candidates named the district’s diversity, increased technology use, and college and career readiness initiatives as strengths. The candidates also said teacher retention was an area in which the district could improve.

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Contact Adam Sodders at 641-753-6611 or asodders@timesrepublican.com