Board moves to fill trustee vacancy with provisional appointment, avoids costly special election

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District Board of Education voted unanimously on July 17, 2025, to pursue a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy in Trustee Area 3 instead of ordering a special election.

Board President Johnson said the board must either order an election or make a provisional appointment within 60 days under Education Code Section 5091. “Pursuant to Education Code Section 5,091, subdivision A, the board shall either order an election or make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy within 60 days of the vacancy,” he read during the meeting.

The board discussed two options: hold a standalone election, which the Santa Barbara County Registrar’s Office estimated would cost the district “75 to a $100,000,” or proceed with advertising, public interviews and a majority vote to approve a provisional appointee under the district’s bylaws. Trustee Grace Velasquez and other members noted that prior appointments followed a similar July–August timetable and characterized appointment as the more fiscally prudent route.

President Johnson said the vacancy followed a resignation and explained the reason on the record: the departing trustee moved out of the trustee area. The resignation was cited as the sole reason in the meeting record; the transcript also uses a different rendering of the departing trustee’s name in places (see audit notes).

The board president moved to approve a provisional appointment and Trustee Grace Velasquez seconded. Roll-call votes recorded the motion as approved; the board confirmed it will follow the flow chart and application packet included in the meeting materials and will post notices and solicit candidates as required by Board Bylaw 9223 and Education Code provisions.

What happens next: the district will advertise the vacancy, accept applications, conduct public interviews, and post notices of the provisional appointment in three public places within 10 days of making an appointment. Voters have 30 days after an appointment to file a petition demanding a special election under Education Code Section 5091(c). The provisional appointee would serve only until the next applicable election (the board discussed that the seat would be filled at the 2026 election), at which point candidates may run for the full term.

The board adjourned after completing the single action item.