Forest Lake board names next-highest 2024 vote‑getter as preferred finalist, sets Dec. 3 interviews and Dec. 4 appointment

Forest Lake Area Schools board members on the evening of the regular November meeting moved to formalize the process for filling a recent board vacancy and named the next‑highest vote‑getter from the 2024 school board election as a preferred finalist.

The chair read a list of applicants and said the board had identified Laura Durango as the highest unelected vote‑getter in 2024; the board adopted a resolution naming Durango the preferred finalist and directing administration to schedule interviews for all applicants. The resolution, which passed on a roll call following discussion, sets committee interviews for Dec. 3 at 5:05 p.m. and schedules a special order of business at the Dec. 4 board meeting to adopt a resolution appointing one of the selected finalists to the vacant seat.

Under the adopted…