Filling the School Board Vacancy

Two weeks ago, our Board colleague David Neighbors submitted his resignation and left the Board of Trustees.  State law dictates that we have 60 days to either call an election or appoint a replacement.  As a special election to elect a new board member would cost the district $250,000 and the result would only fill the term for 12 months, until the November 2014 election, the Board decided this week to go through an appointment process to identify and select a member of the community to fill the vacancy.

An application is available today.  Anyone who is interested can pick it up at the District Office or download the application from the district website.  Applications will be due back to the District Office by Friday, April 5. 

The Board has decided that if there are more than 5 applicants (there were 17 when we filled a vacancy in 2007), we will convene a committee made up of employee representatives and members of the community to interview the candidates and recommend a set of 5 to interview with the Board.  If there are 5 or fewer applicants, the Board will hold a meeting on April 23 to interview all the candidates and have a discussion about them.

If a committee is involved, they will make their recommendation by April 29 and the Board will meet and interview the 5 finalists on May 6.  Either way, the Board will make a final decision by May 6.  The new Board member will then be seated in time for the May 21 Board meeting and will take part in the development of the 2013-2014 school year budget and our Strategic Planning process.