❒ Trustees to take 1st step in appointing new BUSD board colleague

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Assistant Superintendent Michael Gardner will ask the Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees on Thursday to discuss and approve a process for filling the sudden vacancy on the board left by former Trustee Dana Dean, who stepped down this month when she accepted a position on the Solano County Board of Education.

The BUSD board is currently down to four members. According to a letter from Jay Speck, Solano County superintendent of schools, there are two options in choosing a new member.

The first is to make a provisional appointment. “The appointed person shall hold office until the next regularly scheduled election for BUSD governing board members, on Nov. 4, 2014,” Speck wrote.

Though Dean’s term originally was set to end this year, the school board voted March 7 to move its elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years, extending trustees’ terms by a year. The decision must still be approved by the Solano County Board of Supervisors.

The other option outlined by Speck to fill the vacancy left by Dean is to have a special election on the next established election date: Nov. 5, 2013.

“The individual elected in 2013 to fill the vacancy would hold office until Dec. 5, 2014, when Ms. Dean’s term would have ended,” Speck wrote.

If the board takes this option, it will operate with only four members until November, and the district would have to pay the cost of two elections — one this November, and one in November 2014 when the regularly scheduled general election for board members occurs.

Trustees must make a decision by May 5, which is 60 days from the date of vacancy.

“If the board fails to fill the vacancy the County Superintendent of Schools (Speck) shall call an election or fill the position,” Gardner wrote in a report to the board.

He recommends making a provisional appointment to fill the current board vacancy.

If You Go
The Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. in closed session, and at 7 p.m. in open session in the board room of the district office, 350 East K St.

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