Board sets public appointment process and tight deadlines to fill BOE vacancy
Summary
Following a resignation, the board approved a public appointment process: letters of interest and resumes due Dec. 3 by 4 p.m., screening questions follow, interviews scheduled for Jan. 13, and the board will publicly vote with a required four‑vote majority; BOCES or NYSED are fallback appointing authorities if the board is split.
The Shenendehowa board discussed and approved a public appointment process to fill an unexpired Board of Education seat after the resignation of board member Guston Miller.
The board decided to pursue appointment rather than a special election and outlined a multi-step process that staff will publish in a press release. Candidates must submit a letter of interest and a resume to district clerk Cathy Wentmore Chase by Dec. 3, 2025 at 4 p.m.; the district clerk will confirm basic eligibility and then send screening questions to eligible candidates with a 300‑word limit per question. Candidates who receive at least three board member nominations in the screening step will be invited to a public interview on Jan. 13; each candidate will have a 15‑minute interview slot moderated by the district clerk.
After public interviews, the board will deliberate in executive session and then vote publicly. The board clarified a majority of the six‑member board (four votes) is required to appoint. If the board cannot reach a majority, the BOCES district superintendent may appoint; if that is not resolved, the state education commissioner could require a special election. The board and members discussed screening logistics, the content of the screening questions and how many candidates to bring forward for interviews.
Board members emphasized transparency and tight timelines to ensure candidates have clear guidance and equal opportunity to apply. The board approved the process and timeline by motion during the study session.
