The Sacramento County Board of Education at its July 21 meeting voted to make a provisional appointment to fill a vacancy on the Board that was created by the resignation of former Area 2 Trustee and President Gretchen C. Bender. Bender resigned effective July 1, 2009, and moved out of the county. Her term was scheduled to expire in June 2010.
The Board had two options: make a provisional appointment or call a special election. The Board voted unanimously (5–0) to make a provisional appointment.
Based on current voter registration figures for Trustee Area 2, Sacramento County Elections officials estimate that a special election to fill the vacancy would cost roughly $462,000. By law, the earliest that a County Board ordered special election could be held is April 2010. Whether specially elected or appointed, the person selected to fill the Area 2 vacancy would serve only until the next regular election in June 2010.
"It would have been fiscally inappropriate of us to order an expensive election, especially during these tough economic times, when an election would have filled the vacancy for only a few months. Making a provisional appointment is the prudent thing to do," said Board President John C. Scribner.
According to Sacramento County Board of Education bylaws, when a Board member resigns within four or more months before the end of a member's term, the Board shall within 60 days of the effective date of resignation either order an election or make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy. The Board must make a selection to fill the post by August 30.
According to a timeline set by the Board, a new trustee will be selected at a public meeting on August 18. Applications must be received by August 7, 2009. Applications should be submitted to the President of the Sacramento County Board of Education and delivered to the David P. Meaney Education Center, 10474 Mather Boulevard, Mather, CA 95655 or mailed to P.O. Box 269003, Sacramento, CA 95826.
The application must include a letter of interest and résumé. It also may include no more than three letters of recommendation. The Board will hold open session interviews with the applicants. The Board will also hold a special meeting to receive public input from the local community on August 11 at 6:30 p.m. at a location in Trustee Area 2 to be determined.
Area 2 includes the following: communities of Antelope, Del Paso Heights, Elverta, Gardenland, Hagginwood, North Highlands, North and South Natomas, North Sacramento, Rio Linda, Robla, and a portion of Foothill Farms. School districts: Center Unified, Twin Rivers Unified, Elverta Joint, Natomas Unified, and Robla.
Individuals interested in applying for the open Area 2 Trustee position may contact Carla Miller, Assistant to the Superintendent, at (916) 228-2410 for further information.