The Lawrence Board of Education unanimously appointed Bob Byers to a vacant board seat and then elected him vice president during its Jan. 12, 2026, meeting. Speaker 3 moved to "appoint Bob Byers, the fourth place finisher from the 11/04/2025 USD 497 general election, to fill the current board vacancy, term to extend through January 2028," a motion that was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote that the clerk announced as passing 6–0.

Board members then administered the oath of office to newly seated members. Later in the meeting a separate motion to "appoint Bob Byers to serve as board vice president through the remainder of the office term and until new officers are elected in July 2026" also passed unanimously by roll call.

President Gordon Ross turned the meeting over to superintendent Dr. Swift for swearing-in formalities. The superintendent and school staff handled the oath and paperwork and paused the agenda briefly for family photographs before resuming business.

The appointments followed standard board procedure for filling a vacancy and organizing leadership. No objections were recorded during the motions and votes.