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Santa Paula Unified board opts to appoint replacement for Trustee Area 5, sets application and interview schedule
Summary
Facing a resignation effective April 10, the Santa Paula Unified School District board voted to appoint a replacement for Trustee Area 5 rather than hold a special election, approved a public application process, and scheduled candidate interviews for a May 19 special meeting with an appointment expected at the May 28 regular meeting.
The Santa Paula Unified School District board agreed during its meeting to fill the Trustee Area 5 vacancy by provisional appointment rather than by holding a costly special election. Superintendent Jeff told trustees that the resignation was effective April 10 and that "we have 60 days from receiving that to fill the board seat if we're going to make an appointment."
Why it matters: An appointment lets the board seat a representative more quickly and avoids the expense of a special election, but residents of the trustee area retain the right to petition for a special election after an appointment. Trustee Sandoval said a special election would "cost over probably $50,000 to run," a factor the board cited when weighing options.
What was decided: Trustees directed administration to post an application process and public notices. The board settled on a schedule that calls for a social-media announcement and a newspaper notice (the Santa Paula Times) followed by candidate applications, candidate interviews at a special meeting on May 19 at 5:00 p.m., and a provisional appointment at the regular board meeting on May 28. Superintendent Jeff summarized the legal framework the board must follow and said staff will verify applicant addresses and post applications with the agenda.
Process details and transparency: Trustees emphasized that applications and interview questions should be posted publicly and that interviews must occur in open session. The board discussed screening for conflicts of interest—such as district employees or spouses of employees—and agreed staff would check for eligibility before interviews. Trustees also asked staff to consult the County Office of Education and the California School Boards Association for procedural clarity if needed.
Vote and next steps: A motion to proceed with an appointment (rather than a special election) was moved and approved by voice vote. The board instructed staff to publish the vacancy notice and application instructions imminently, proceed with candidate outreach, hold interviews on May 19, and act on a provisional appointment at the May 28 meeting.
