Discussion of vacancy leaves more questions than answers

The informational meeting of the McCook Public Schools board of education Monday evening created more questions than it answered about filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of board member and president Greg Larson.

Larson tendered his resignation, effective immediately, at the Sept. 8 meeting. Although the board has acknowledged the resignation, it is not necessary to take "official action" to accept a resignation. The topic will be on the agenda for the Oct 13 board meeting. There are two years and two months remaining in Larson's term.

Most of the indecision in filling the vacancy is because the election to determine three board of education seats is imminent, in November, and each of the incumbents -- Mike Gonzales, Tom Bredvick and Diane Lyons -- wants to retain his/her seat.

Should the existing board appoint someone? Now? Or wait until after the election? Should the board accept applications and interview candidates? Now? Or after the election?

Can or should the challengers -- Traci Loker and Maury Green -- be considered for appointment, application/interview? If one of the two challengers is appointed, should his/her name be retained on the ballot in November? What happens to the challenger not selected? What message is that sending to voters?

If one of the incumbents is not re-elected, can/should he/she be considered for the vacancy if it is filled after the election? What message is that sending to voters? If it's done before new members are seated in January, the incumbent can't vote for himself/herself, right? Does the vote require a quorum of the board?

Superintendent Dave Schley suggested that the "clearest way" to handle the situation with Larson's vacancy is to interview before the election, "erasing doubts in voters' minds."

How long can the board operate without naming a replacement? Are school boards held to a 45-day limit as some other boards are? The McCook board went five months in a similar situation in 2006, when board member Ron Soden resigned in August, that vacancy was filled with the election in November and the replacement was seated in January.

These are all "interesting scenarios," Marcia Herring, a consultant from the Nebraska Association of School Boards, told board members. She strongly recommended that the board speak to legal counsel before making any decisions.

The existing five-member board is legal; its quorum -- four -- is not reduced by the vacancy.

Although Larson was board president, a new appointee/interview selection would not automatically assume that position. Vice president Larry Shields, elected to the position by fellow board members in January, is acting as president in Larson's absence.