2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 16 - Education › Chapter 11 - Union School Districts › § 731. Vacancy on unified union school district board

§ 731. Vacancy on unified union school district board
(a) Filling a vacancy. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, this section shall apply to a vacancy on a unified union school district board, unless otherwise provided in the articles of agreement of the district as initially approved by the voters on or before July 1, 2019.
(1) Proportional to town population. If the vacancy is for a seat where membership is apportioned to a town within the unified union school district in a number that is closely proportional to the town’s relative population and only voters residing in the town elect the board member, then the clerk of the unified union school district shall notify the selectboard of the town not later than five days after learning of the vacancy. Within 30 days after providing notice and after consultation with the selectboard, the unified union school district board shall appoint an eligible person to fill the vacancy until the voters elect a successor at an annual or special meeting.
(2) Modified at-large model: allocation to town; at-large representation. If the vacancy is for a seat where membership is allocated to a town within the unified union school district in a number that is not closely proportional to each town’s relative population and the board member is elected at large, then the district clerk shall notify the selectboard of the town not later than five days after learning of the vacancy. Within 30 days after providing notice and after consultation with the selectboard, the unified union school district board shall appoint an eligible person to fill the vacancy until the voters elect a successor at an annual or special meeting.
(3) At-large representation. If the vacancy is for a seat that is neither apportioned nor allocated to a town within the unified union school district as provided in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection and the board member is elected at-large, then within 30 days after creation of the vacancy the unified union school district board shall appoint an eligible person to fill the vacancy until the voters elect a successor at an annual or special meeting.
(4) Vacancy in all seats. If all seats on a school board are vacant, then the Secretary of State shall call a special election to fill the vacancies.
(b) Notification. Within 10 days after the appointment of a board member pursuant to this section, the district clerk of the unified union school district shall transmit the name of the appointed board member to the Secretary of State.
(c) Obligations and expenses.
(1) Vacancy in majority. If there are vacancies in a majority of the members of a unified union school district board at the same time, then the remaining member or members are authorized to draw orders for payment of continuing obligations and necessary expenses until a majority of the vacancies are filled pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(2) Vacancy in all seats. If there are no members of the unified union school district board in office, then the Secretary of State shall authorize the district clerk or other qualified person to draw orders for payment of continuing obligations and necessary expenses until a majority of the vacancies are filled. (Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.)