VALPARAISO | An idea kicked around for about five years finally came to fruition last week with the appointment of Councilwoman Kelly Ward as the council's liaison to the School Board.

Council President Al Eisenmenger said former Councilman Vince Galbiati first brought up the idea of the liaison and was interested in the position, but timing and schedules just never seemed to work out.

"We were trying to find a person who would be able to make all the meetings," Eisenmenger said. "We discussed it again when we were making all the other council appointments to various boards and committees at the beginning of the year. Kelly kept it in her mind and volunteered."

Eisenmenger said he hated to ask Ward because the time commitments would take away valuable family time, but he finally did so after recently returning from vacation. He said the appointment has nothing to do with recent controversies in the school system that have brought public criticism over the lack of openness by the School Board.

"This has been in the works for a long time," he said.

Ward said she thinks she will be a good fit for the position because she has five children and is very passionate about the schools. The job takes on more importance with many residents calling for more council oversight of the School Board, four of whom are appointed by the council. The fifth is appointed by the Center Township trustee.

"People want a conduit between the council and the board," she said. "My job is not to provide oversight but to keep communication open and work together on as many things as we can. I look forward to working with them. It should be a fun challenge."

Ward, just completing her first year on the council, said she supports the appointed School Board concept for Valparaiso because it enables the council to select really qualified candidates who might not otherwise run. However, she understands the public's desire for better access.

"It seems the people want transparency, and I hope to work with them on transparency and other things the public wants so they will not feel like we appoint the board and then walk away," she said. "I think we've got some challenges, but with those times comes the opportunity to make things better."

Eisenmenger said, "Being the first liaison, there will be a little bit of 'wait and see.' She's sharp, and I have confidence she will form the liaison job into something that will benefit the council and the School Board so information can go back and forth."

He expects the position to become a permanent thing but added, "It's hard to predict the future, but, with us wanting for so long to do this, I think it is a good thing."