Lawrence school board members will ask whoever applies for a now-vacant seat to pledge to run for the office in November 2023.
Andrew Nussbaum, who was sworn in in January, has resigned as his family is planning to move out of state. Board members on Monday discussed the process to select the next person who will fill the seventh seat.
Nussbaum’s term was not set to expire until January 2026. Voters will have a chance to weigh in on the second half of the term, but until then, the board will need to appoint someone.
Board member Kelly Jones pointed out that the application did not ask those who apply to commit to running for the office in the election.
“I think that is a key component of consideration because of the expense that goes into running the special election, and I think it shows commitment. Melissa Johnson had to commit to run and she did,” Jones said, referring to a former board member who had joined the board through an application and then was elected to complete a four-year term. “And it wasn’t an easy commitment to make. We all know that.”
Jones said a lot of people were interested and comfortable taking on the position for a two-year term. But the board recently put in place a leadership position of past president, and members have talked about continuity of leadership. “It doesn’t feel consistent with the direction that we’ve been going” not to ask for that commitment of a new board member, Jones said.
Board President Shannon Kimball said she thought it was an important question to ask, but she wasn’t sure at what point in the process to ask. Jones said she would want to know if she was applying that running for the office would be an expectation. Board member Kay Emerson said she thought it would be good to “get it out of the way” on the application, too.
Those who are interested in filling the vacancy will need to apply to the board by Aug. 15. The application will be available on the district’s website this week. Since the applications are for an elected office, they will be public documents. Interviews will also be conducted publicly.
Board members will review applications, discuss them at their Aug. 22 meeting, and hold a special meeting on Aug. 29 to interview candidates and appoint one to serve on the board until Jan. 8, 2024.
The board unanimously approved the selection process, with the added question on the application seeking a commitment to run in the November 2023 election.
Kimball and Emerson both thanked Nussbaum for his service during the meeting, though he was not in attendance at the meeting.
“I know that it was not an easy decision for Andrew to make to leave the board, but I also know and I very much respect the fact that sometimes our personal lives demand that we make such difficult decisions,” Kimball said. “I wish Andrew and his family much success and happiness in the next phase of their journey.”
“I definitely hope that everything that you guys are looking for comes true,” Emerson said. “So best wishes and thank you for your service.”
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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