School Board Seeking Candidates for Open Board Seat

The Lawrence Township Board of Education is now accepting “letters of interest” from people wishing to be considered for an open position on the school board.

The vacancy is an unexpired term with two years remaining. Joshua Wilson – one of three candidates in the running for the seat – received the most votes.

But in the days leading up to the election, Wilson notified the school district and local media outlets via email that he wished to withdraw from the election due to “an unforeseen personal obligation.” Because he did not withdraw from the race by the March 5 deadline set by the state, however, his name remained on the April 17 ballot.

On April 19, Wilson submitted to the school board a formal letter declining the seat. Even though Wilson officially declined the position, the seat does not automatically go to the runner-up in the April 17 election.

Instead, by law, the school board must appoint someone to fill the seat until the next election in April 2013, when voters can choose someone to serve the remaining year of the term.

A legal notice issued by the Lawrence Township Board of Education will appear in today’s (May 7) editions of local newspapers advertising the open position.

That notice reads as follows:

The Lawrence Township Board of Education is accepting Letters of Interest from Lawrence residents for the purpose of filling an open position on the Board of Education.  The Board of Education will appoint the successful applicant to the position for a one-year term ending in April 2013.  Interested persons should send a Letter of Interest and a resume, via email, to Thomas Eldridge, Board Secretary, at TEldridge@ltps.org.

The Letter of Interest should include the reason(s) the resident would like to be considered for the vacant position and any other information the applicant would like to share with the board.  The board will interview candidates for the vacant position.

Please submit your Letter of Interest and resume no later than May 21, 2012. Thank you for your interest in the Lawrence Township Board of Education.

The next meeting of the Lawrence Township Board of Education will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8. That will be a special meeting to discuss and adopt the amended 2012-2013 school budget. The next regular school board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 14.

For School Budget and School Board Background, See:

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• April 27: “”
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• March 28: “”
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