At its August 26 meeting, the BH-BL Board of Education held a discussion about the options they have for filling a member vacancy. In mid July, newly elected resident John Shilito had to step away from his appointment to the Board of Education, citing timely personal commitments and an unexpected change of circumstances.
Per Education Law, when a Board member resigns prior to completing a full term, the Board has several options:
- Leave the position vacant until the next election, which would be May 2027.
- Hold a public election where residents cast a vote for a new Board member who would serve until May of 2027
- Appoint an individual to hold the position until the next election in May 2027.
During the meeting, the Board unanimously agreed that leaving the position vacant is not an option they are comfortable with. They were also not in favor of holding a mid-year election which would take several weeks to coordinate and arrange with the county elections office, especially given the limited term of this position.
“Per past practice for the BH-BL Board of Education when a member vacancy occurs is to reach out to former board members to see if they’d be interested in filling the position,” said Board President Lisa Morse. “This is typically done due to the experience, knowledge, and training former Board members possess and, in this instance, because the seat term will only last through May of 2027. After our discussion at the meeting, the board agreed to have administration garner interest from former members and report back to the Board.”
At its next meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 9 or the following meeting on September 23, the Board is expected to appoint the resident who will fill the vacancy.