By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Twenty-one people are vying for a spot on Pelham’s inaugural five-member city school board, and the applicants’ backgrounds range from the ministry to education.

Pelham leaders released the list of school board applicants on Oct. 9, a few days after the deadline to apply for the board ended at midnight on Oct. 7.

The following is a list of the applicants and their backgrounds:

-Jeff Allison, youth pastor and small business owner

-Becky Beall, journalist and customer service manager

-Senitra Cook Blackburn, human resources manager

-Amy Bradley, real estate and construction

-Veronica Crenshaw, recent law school graduate

-Cathy Dollar, occupational therapist

-Kip Dollar, financial services and small business owner

-Jane Germek, food services manager

-Angie Hester, project manager and telecommunications

-Paul Howell, financial services and planning

-Brian Long, developer, construction and construction materials

-Chris Pennington, communications and E-911

-Richard Poff, lawyer

-Barbara Regan, retired educator

-Rick Rhoades, retired educator

-Ted Smith, lawyer

-Markus Snowden, technical and operations director

-Wanda Spillers, revenue utilization coordinator and registered nurse

-Jim Sumpter, financial services and planning

-Gregg Vincent, pharmaceutical senior territory manager

-Larry Vines, retired interventionist at Oak Mountain Middle School

Pelham leaders previously said they were looking for a wide range of backgrounds and skillsets among those chosen to serve on the school board.

After reviewing the applicants, City Council President Rick Hayes said the council will begin scheduling interviews with the candidates. All applicant interviews will be open to the public.

Hayes previously said the council would like to start the interviews “as soon as possible.”

The council voted unanimously last month to form a Pelham city school board and eventually separate from the Shelby County School system, but the separation date has not yet been finalized.