Board meets to fill seat

HURON — Huron's school board is taking steps to fill its vacant board president position. Earlier this month, the district's board president, John Jones, passed away. He was 68. In determining the next steps to take, the district is following guidance from the Ohio School Boards Association. According to the association, the board must start the process of filling the vacancy at its "next regular or special meeting" which takes place at least ten days after the vacancy occurs. That meeting occurred on Monday. Action to fill the vacancy must be taken before the position has been vacant for 30 days, meaning a new board president must be hired no later than Jan. 2, which coincides with the board's 2024 organizational meeting. Candidates for the board position will be interviewed during this meeting, and the chosen candidate will also be selected. The person appointed will serve a two-year term and have a special election in 2025 along with three other expiring school board seats. The Ohio School Boards Association and the district's legal team recommended the appointment take place at the board's organizational meeting. The school's superintendent, James Tatman, put out a questionnaire to the community yesterday. This questionnaire, which can be found on the school district's website under "Community/Alumni," will be used to see who is interested in the position. After five days, Tatman will share the results of the questionnaire with the board. The board will then decide who they would like to interview for the position. The board plans to appoint a candidate with similar characteristics and qualities as Jones, who was recently re-elected to the board. Board members described him as community-oriented, focused on students and someone who had a grasp on the chain of command. School board member Stacey Hartley has been chosen to run the organizational meeting as president pro Tempore. Until January, board vice-president Jody Halter-Mast will be acting board president.