Wilhelmenia Rembert, who once chaired the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board, wants to get back on board. She is one of 12 candidates vying for the vacant District 6 seat.

Current school board members will interview applicants today at 1 p.m. in a meeting at the government center that is open to the public. They could pick the board's newest member today, or reconvene Thursday and do it then.

The District 6 seat was left vacant when Tim Morgan was elected to an at-large seat in November. The person the board chooses will serve the remaining two years of his term.

"We need to look for somebody who understands the District 6 concerns, but also has an ability to look at CMS as a whole and also has the ability to work with the entire board," Morgan said Monday. "We also want somebody who is committed to the reform movement that has been beneficial to helping us close the achievement gaps."

District 6 is a heavily Republican suburban district. But there are five Democrats among the current eight board members, prompting speculation as to whether the Democrat majority will vote for a moderate Republican like Morgan or push through someone, such as Rembert, from their own party.

Rembert served five years on the board before narrowly losing her seat in 2003. She later served as vice chair of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners.

She is one of 12 applicants who applied by Monday's deadline. According to a CMS news release, the others are:

Larry Bumgarner, a retired business owner from Mint Hill who has frequently run for the board,

Bolyn McClung of Pineville, who works in the printing industry and is a regular at board meetings.

Scott Babbidge of Matthews, a substitute teacher who is self-employed.

E. Thomas Bowers of Charlotte, a retired human resources manager and political activist.

Angelica P. Castaneda-Noorbakhsh of Charlotte, co-owner of MAS Fitness & Athletics, who is active in the Hispanic community.

Aida P. Bertsch of Mint Hill, who has international business experience, including 10 years in pharmaceutical/biotechnology industries.

David Matthew Knoble of Charlotte, owner of a CPA firm, with 17 years of leadership experience in the Boy Scouts of America.

Richard F. Martin of Mint Hill, who has more than 25 years of senior IT management experience and 10 years experience in local government.

Gerald J. Pelletier of Charlotte, a former Myers Park High School teacher who served on the school board in Lincoln, R.I.

The Rev. Amelia Stinson-Wesley of Pineville, who works for World Connections for Women.

Philip Volponi, who is self-employed.

Michael Orlando withdrew his application.