We asked potential school board members about the process to fill the vacancy
The regular meeting of the school board will begin at 630pm in the Elementary School multipurpose room on Tuesday, October 1st
By Andrew Harris
Last week we reported on the resignation of longtime Wellsville Central School board of education member Rex Olson. This resignation, just months after a very robust school board election and after superintendent David Foster stepped down, creates a complex situation.
With Olson’s resignation effective immediately, the existing school board led by newly elected President Jason Mattison, has to decided on how to fill the seat. The decision comes as the board is about to launch a search for a new superintendent. Dr. Colleen Taggerty is currently acting as interim superintendent but has explained she is not interested in the permanent role.
The current board will meet this Tuesday October 1 and the process for filling the vacant seat will be addressed. Three choices are before the board, to appoint via board resolution, to conduct a special election, or to not act and leave the seat vacant until the May 2025 scheduled election.
Since the reports of Olson’s departure, multiple candidates have expressed interested with the board of education. Candidates from the recent election, Heather Gill, Shane Vogel, Jim Wixson, and Keith Loines have show a willingness to serve on the volunteer board. Former Wellsville Town Clerk Sylvia LaChance has also formally asked to be considered for the role. We asked the potential new board members for a take on the process moving forward.
Keith Loines, former Vice-President of the board, made it clear that he supports using the recent election results to decide on a new board member:
“I believe that the people have already spoken at the last election. There were 3 seats available and I believe that the candidate with the 4th most votes should fill the vacancy. That would be Heather Gill. She was who the community chose in 4th place and therefore should be the selection. I would love to be back on the board, but I trust in the democratic process first and foremost. Heather has my full support and is the rightful and democratically chosen candidate for the position.”
That statement begs the question, what does former board member Heather Gill think about the question of filling the open seat? Gill lost re-election by a single vote in May and had this to say:
“I believe the most important factor in the decision on how to fill this vacancy, is the will of the voters in the Wellsville Central School District. As both a parent and a voter, I believe this can be done either through a special election or by appointing the runner up from the last election. With that said, I am the runner up from the last election, and as such, my personal opinion and preference is the least important to this discussion. I will support any decision the Board makes, that prioritizes the voice of our community.”
Jim Wixson also ran in the last school board election and still wants the job. Wixson didn’t mince words when we asked him how the process should work:
“I believe the only fair way to fill the open seat is through a special election, to prevent accusations of someone being chosen because they are a friend of someone on the board.”
Former Town of Wellsville Clerk Sylvia LaChance, who did not run in the August election, is asking to be considered for the seat. She made her opinion on the best next steps clear:
“I think there should be a special election. There are five candidates for this one-year seat and I feel that the people of the Wellsville School District should have a choice on who that person is.”
Another candidate from the last school board election, Shane Vogel, has also expressed interest in joining the board. Vogel was unable to comment but you can read more about him from our recent question/answer:
