Yosemite School Board has vacancy to fill

JUDITH SCOTT - JSCOTT@SIERRASTAR.COM

At the board meeting on June 19, it was announced that David Hartesveldt resigned from his position on the Yosemite Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees. Mr. Hartesveldt has been a board trustee since 1996, representing the Coarsegold area. His appointment was scheduled to expire in 2004.

Bill McCabe, superintendent of Yosemite Joint Union High School District (YJUHSD), said during the June board meeting, “The recommendation is that we would advertise for a month, and on August 21 bring in potential candidates.” When asked how long the appointment would last, Mr. McCabe responded, “The chair will last until 2004, so the person who takes it [the board seat] in August will hold that seat for approximately 16 months.”

According to Mr. McCabe, the YJUHSD board had a choice to elect or appoint, and they opted to appoint a new board member. The board is accepting letters of intent accompanied by a resume. All letters and resumes must be in the district office by August 4. Another requirement for the position is that the candidate must live within the Coarsegold School District boundary.

During the August 21 board meeting, the board members and Mr. McCabe will interview each candidate during the public session, and deliberate in front of the public. Then, according to Mr. McCabe, “accept or reject all, which would be highly unlikely.” If a candidate is selected, they will immediately be appointed as a board member. Mr. McCabe stated, “We’re enthusiastic about filling the position.” Mr. McCabe wants the community to know that “Dave will be sorely missed ... he served the community well.”

The process for filling an empty seat of a board member consists of either the ordering of an election or making a provisional appointment. According to the California Education Code Section 5090-5095, “In the event that a governing board fails to make a provisional appointment or order an election within the prescribed 60-day period as required by this section, the county superintendent of schools shall call an election to fill the vacancy.”

The California Educational Code Section 5090-5095, and the provisions outlining board member vacancies can be located on the web at www.leginfo.ca.gov


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