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Board authorizes solicitation of applications to fill trustee vacancy after trustee-elect’s death
Summary
After announcing the death of trustee-elect Christina Laskowski, the board voted unanimously to authorize staff to advertise the vacancy, form a subcommittee and interview applicants with a provisional appointment possible in December.
The San Mateo-Foster City School District board on Nov. 14 authorized the superintendent to solicit applications to fill a trustee vacancy created when trustee-elect Christina Laskowski died Oct. 23.
Superintendent Nacho explained the two basic legal options: order a special election or make a provisional appointment, and recommended the board use a public appointment process similar to prior appointments of trustees. “The position... is a vacancy for a trustee area,” he said, noting the board has the authority to fill the vacancy within 60 days or to order an election.
Under the recommended process, administration will advertise the vacancy widely, accept applications, and a board subcommittee of fewer than a quorum will screen applicants for eligibility. Final interviews of eligible applicants would be conducted in public and the board would select a provisional appointee; the county would be notified and the usual 30-day petition window could apply.
Trustees sought clarifications about potential challenges and timing. One trustee asked whether votes cast by a provisionally appointed trustee would be considered valid if a subsequent special election were called; superintendent Nacho said the provisional trustee’s votes at the time of appointment are considered valid but added he would obtain a written clarification from legal counsel on timing details. Trustees also discussed when the seat would next be up for election; staff said the next regularly scheduled election affecting these seats would be Nov. 2026.
Trustee Trinh moved to authorize the superintendent to solicit applications; another trustee seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to approve the solicitation and proceed with forming the subcommittee and a public interview process at the December meeting.
At the same meeting the board also reported a closed-session action approving a compromise agreement with parents to resolve potential claims in exchange for funding an alternate student program for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years.
The board will accept applications and hold public interviews at the Dec. 12 meeting; administration said application materials will include written information about the term length and timing for the seat.
