The Bowlus Commission will have two new members, Stan Grigsby and Jeffrey Anderson.
Bowlus Director Daniel Kays asked school board members to appoint the new members on Monday. The district oversees Bowlus operations.
A vacancy was created with the expiration of a term for Susan McKinnis.
However, Kays said the commission considered two possible replacements and decided to appoint both. He asked for permission to change the bylaws to read that the commission would contain “at least eight members.” 
Three members come from Iola and three from outside the city, with Iola’s administrator and a county commissioner also serving.
Grigsby attended Monday’s meeting. He briefly described his connection to the arts.
He and wife, Donna, are longtime supporters of the Bowlus. The couple’s daughter is a Broadway music director.
Grigsby served in the Navy and worked as a physicist and educator. He now volunteers at the elementary school where he reads to first-graders.
Although he was a physicist, Grigsby emphasized his appreciation for the arts.
“The ‘A’ in STEAM is what gives it dynamics,” he said to board members, using the acronym for an education based in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
“An education system that doesn’t have a good arts program is missing something.”
Anderson was not able to attend Monday’s meeting. He is the music director at Allen Community College and is temporarily leading the Iola Symphony Orchestra while it searches for a new director.
“Jeffrey is a wonderful resource,” Kays said. “He’s a great teacher and he’s really been lifting up the music program at ACC. He brings a different perspective to the table as a performer and educator.”
