202.4 – BOARD VACANCIES
A vacancy occurs when a board member resigns, forfeits or otherwise leaves the office.
A vacancy also includes, but is not limited to, the following: failure to be properly elected, failure to qualify within the time fixed by law, failure to reside in the school district or director district, a court order declaring the seat vacant, conviction of a felony, violations of the open meetings law, or conviction of a public offense in violation of the oath of office.
If a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of a term of office, the vacancy will be filled by board appointment within 30 days of the vacancy. The newly-appointed board member will hold the position until the next scheduled school election.
If the board is unable to fill a vacancy by appointment within 30 days after the vacancy occurs, the board secretary will call a special election to be held no sooner than 60 days and not later than 70 days after the vacancy occurred. A board member elected at the special election will serve the remaining portion of the unexpired term.
Any person so appointed as an officer or member of the Board of Directors shall qualify within ten days thereafter in the manner required by law.
NOTE: Special elections called because the board is unable to fill a vacancy by appointment within 30 days or called because a valid petition has been submitted are to be held 60-70 days after the vacancy occurs. These special elections are different than the special school elections (commonly called public measure elections), which are held on four specific dates each year as outlined in Iowa Code. The special elections called to fill a vacancy can be held at any time of the year.
Legal Reference: Good v. Crouch, 397 N.W.2d 757 (Iowa 1986); Board of Directors of Grimes Independent School Dist. v. County Board of Public Instruction of Polk Co., 257 Iowa 106, 131 N.W.2d 802 (1965).; Board of Directors of Menlo Consol. School Dist. v. Blakesburg, 240 Iowa 910, 36 N.W.2d 751 (1949); owa Code §§ 21.6(3)(d); 69; 277.29-.30; 279.6-.7 (2007): 1944 Op. Att’y Gen. 39.
Date of Adoption: September 2014
Reviewed & Revised: March 21, 2016, February 14, 2022