Talawanda accepting applications for vacant board position

The Talawanda School District is seeking applications from people interested in serving on the Board of Education. Individuals who apply would finish the unexpired term of David Bothast, who resigned from the board on Sept. 9.

Ohio law requires the district to appoint a replacement within 30 days of the resignation. The new member will serve the remainder of the term ending Dec. 31, 2025, and would need to run in the next general election to keep the seat after that.

According to a public notice from the district, anyone interested should contact Michael Malone, director of human resources, at malonem@talawanda.org to request an application. The district will distribute applications and guidelines on Sept. 17, the notice says, with the application window closing at 5 p.m. Sept. 24. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, registered to vote and a resident of the Talawanda School District to serve on the board, according to Ohio law.

The process for filling a vacancy is laid out in Board policy po0145, according to the notice. The policy states that the board “shall seek qualified and interested candidates from the community through news media, word of mouth and contacts with appropriate organizations.” Applicants are then required to submit notice of their interest to the Board President and may be interviewed by the current board members “to ascertain their qualifications.”

The applicant who receives a majority vote from the current board members will then fill the vacancy.

If the vacancy is not filled within 30 days of opening, the probate court of Butler County will step in to “perform the duties imposed on the Board” to fill the vacancy.

The district’s notice states that Talawanda’s board will “review all applications and decide on the replacement at a special session scheduled for either the end of September or the first week of October,” though no date has been chosen as of Sept. 11.