Special election to fill vacancy on school board
By MATTHEW REZAB
m.rezab@beeherald.com
At the recommendation of Superintendent Tim Christensen, the Greene County School Board unanimously voted Wednesday to not appoint a new member for 30 days in the wake of Ashley Johnston’s recent resignation.
If the board doesn’t make an appointment within 30 days of a member’s resignation, the issue is sent to the voters for a special election between 60 and 70 days after the resignation.
Christensen said he believes the special election will be held March 14.
“I’ve had two people express some interest,” Christensen told the board. “Steve Fisher has spoken with me and expressed interest. No issues at all with you Steve, the one reservation I have is that you do have a spouse that works for the district and I just wanted to share that with the board.”
Christensen did say that a teacher’s spouse and a secretary’s spouse have both served on the board in the past.
“Matt Wetrich has also expressed some interest,” Christensen said. “Matt is from Jefferson. I know it’s been brought up that some people want someone from the former East Greene district to represent them... Then the people will have an opportunity to vote for who they want and they can also vote whether they want someone from Jefferson or the former East Greene district to represent them.”
Fisher resides near Grand Junction.
“If there are two people who want it, we should have an election,” board member John McConnell said.
Christensen said the election could cost the district anywhere between $2,250 and $5,750, but he expects the price to be closer to the former.
The bond referendum in September cost $5,750, but the polls were open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Clover Hall was rented by the district.
The 2014 PPEL vote cost Jefferson-Scranton about $1,100, which Christensen said he doubled because of the inclusion of East Greene. Polls were open from noon until 8 p.m. — the same as the March vote will be.
Anyone who collects enough signatures is eligible to run for the board seat in March.
The district business office did not have an immediate number of signatures required, but it is believed to be between 35 and 50 signatures to get a name on the ballot. Petitions can be picked up at the business office.
The seat won in the special election will be contested again during the regular election in September.
In other business, the board was expected to vote on which school administrator will not be retained next year due to the closing of the intermediate building in Grand Junction after this school year.
Christensen said he needs two more weeks to decide on a recommendation.
“I apologize. This process is taking longer than anticipated,” Christensen told the board. “I’ve got more work to do on it. I’d like to request a couple additional weeks to lay out a time line and options.”
The board approved closing the Grand Junction Intermediate School on Nov. 9. The plan to not retain one administrator was part of that decision to save money.
“It will depend on what direction we go with it,” Christensen said when asked about why more time is needed. “The big thing is, I need to talk to the person and lay out the process to them.”
In old business, the board approved changing language in board policy to incorporate the new “Grievance/Complaint Form” for parents, employees and students who have an issue within the district.
Individuals will have 10 days from the date of an incident to start the complaint process.
If the complainant isn’t satisfied with the result of the first meeting, he or she has 10 school days to meet with the next level, whether that be a principal or the superintendent.
The final step would be informing the board president through the district’s business office that the process has been followed and they’d like to be heard by the full board.
“I think we need the 10-day rule in place,” board member Sam Harding said. “After a couple weeks, memories can get a little hazy or skewed. This will also keep year-old complaints from appearing.”
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