Filling a Board Vacancy - How it Really Works

This is our second consecutive year of needing to replace a board member between elections. In our last episode, last July the board completely ignored the candidate who received the 3rd highest vote total (only 32 less than Jim Carrel) as well as 4 other long-time community members. Ignoring the voice of the community, the board opted to select Tim Boylen, who didn't even run for election last year--after a 5 minute interview [not counting disconnections due to loss of signal] via cell phone from his northwoods vacation.

Ultimately, the board got what THEY (not the community) wanted---someone who has served as a business manager for another school district. That would give them another vote to blindly rubber stamp whatever district administration puts forth. Forget the fact that Boylen had only lived in the community about 2 years.

Fast forward to present day. We have another board opening. Wanna know the inside scoop on how it will be filled? Let's start with the appearances put on for the public. Any community member can apply for the position. Applications (see link below) are due this Tuesday July 9. Interviews will then be held on July 13. That's right, folks, that is indeed a Sunday....and around dinner time...when the public is not around. Oh, the interviews are open to the public, but they won't be televised. We wouldn't want the public to see for themselves how the selection process really works....would we? After the interviews, the board will cast secret ballots. All it takes is 4 school board members to vote for a candidate and that individual will fill the seat until next April.

So...that's the Hollywood storefront set erected for appearances sake. Want a dose of reality? Here's what's happening behind the scenes. Board members have spoken with various community members and encouraged them to vie for the vacancy. There are even meetings between potential candidates and board members. In some cases, there have even been whisperings that verbal commitment of a board member's vote have been offered.

Want a clue as to who will be selected to fill the school board vacancy? Our crystal ball shows a very clear image.

1. Think of a wide receiver from Oregon drafted in the 2nd round by NFL's Baltimore Ravens.
2. Think of the NFL running back whose claim to fame was a touchdown celebration involving flapping arms.

Sadly, the quest for transparency of government is always hindered by backroom dealings. The school board wonders why the community does not trust them. What we need of our school board (and other elected officials) is a board that does not congregate after meetings for adult beverages and "small talk" and keeps district administration members at arms length. Certainly board members can have an amicable working relationship with district administration, but many of our board members are uncomfortably close to them. Unfortunately the public is never going to find out about cell phone discussions between board members between meetings. To assume these types of things are not happening is to be naive.

How to apply for the school board vacancy created by Jim Carrel's resignation