Board invites letters of intent to fill vacancy left by resigned member; state appointment possible after statutory deadline

After accepting the resignation of board president and member David Bell at last week’s meeting, the Lincoln County Board of Education announced Tuesday that it will accept letters of intent from interested applicants to fill the vacant seat.

Board members cited Policy 0145 (revised Jan. 10) outlining the board’s vacancy process and referenced West Virginia Code 18‑5‑22, which sets a 45‑day timeline for filling vacancies; if the board does not appoint a replacement within that window, the state superintendent may appoint an individual.

How to apply: those interested were asked to submit a letter of intent addressed to the board office at 10 Marlin Avenue, Hamlin, West Virginia 25523. The board said it would post the notice on the board’s website.

Deadline and timeline: the board asked that letters be submitted by the end of business in April; the transcript did not specify an exact calendar date for that deadline. The board said it will review applicants at its April meeting and determine whether to fill the vacancy; if no appointment is made within the statutory timeframe the state superintendent will act.

Why it matters: the board emphasized the statutory requirement and timeline; filling the seat affects quorum and representation on county education decisions.

Next steps: the board will collect letters of intent, review them at its April meeting and potentially appoint a replacement; if the board does not act within the statutory deadline the state superintendent will make the appointment under state code.