APS discuss process for Board member replacement

The Alamogordo Public Schools Board of Education held a work session Monday to determine how too fill the District 5 school board vacancy.

On Aug. 9, Carol Teweleit resigned the position after an audit of district lines revealed that she did not live in District 5.

"I was pretty distressed by it," said David Weaver, Alamogordo Public Schools (APS) School Board Member for District 3.

"I can't believe that that got past those people. Carol specifically asked for them to check to make sure."

Timothy Wolfe, APS School Board President, said he believed the Otero County Clerk's Office relied on computer information and did not check a physical district map.

"It was very unfortunate but that leaves an opening in the board and the board is charged with appointing a replacement," Wolfe said.

More:Teweleit resigns from APS board after district line review disqualifies her

The school board has 45 days - until Sept. 23 - to fill the vacancy.

On Monday, the board discussed two options to fill the District 5 vacancy by the Sept. 23 deadline.

One option allows the the board to issue a notice of vacancy asking those interested in the position to submit a letter of interest.  

Interested parties would then need to submit a letter of interest of no more than one page in length that says why the candidate should be appointed to the position and a one-page resume. 

Under this option any submitted resumes and letters of interest will be verified for eligibility with the Otero County Clerk's Office. A special school board meeting to evaluate the applicants using an evaluation rubric that has yet to be determined would then be scheduled. An appointment to the seat would be made using that rubric.

Wolfe said that though the first option seems like a lengthy selection process, it would indeed progress quickly.

Superintendent Jerrett Perry said he was unfamiliar with the process, but Deputy Superintendent Cara Malone said it was used while she was employed in a school district in Texas. 

As a second option, the board could consider as candidates for the position those who have already shown an interest in the vacancy and seek no other candidates.

Just two people have shown an interest, and one letter of interest has been submitted.

If the board decides to go with the second option, they can choose their appointee at Wednesday's meeting.

"My mild concern about option 2 is will we get some backlash? Because we didn't throw it open to the public," Wolfe said. "I think we're justified. I don't think it's a question that we don't have authority to do that that way. I think it's a consideration of will it cause heartburn with the community for not giving everybody a chance?" 

The deadline will most likely be Sept. 3 so the District 5 seat will be filled at the Sept. 18 regular school board meeting.

No third option was proposed at the work session but a third option can be proposed at Wednesday's meeting.

"I'm hopeful that at the Wednesday meeting, we can settle on the process we're going to use and, if we're going to use option two, I don't know why we can't designate the appointment that same night," Wolfe said.

The agenda item states that the board will "consider appointment of replacement board member in District 5" so the board could appoint someone Wednesday night if board members chose to go that route.

APS District 5 runs along part of Railroad Avenue and includes part of Indian Wells Road up to 25th Street. 

The local election on Nov. 5 will include APS School Board Districts 1,3,4 and 5 on the ballot. The District 5 seat will be only for a two-year term, to finish out the remainder of Teweleit's term.

The others will be for four-year terms.

The details of how the District 5 seat will be decided will be determined at Wednesday's regular school board meeting at 6 p.m.at the APS Administration Building at 1211 Hawaii Avenue. 

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on twitter at @nicmaxreporter