TANNEHILL

BOARD VACANCIES

It is the policy of the Tannehill Board of Education that as mandated by Oklahoma Statute, Title 26, Section 13A‑103, an an­nual election, held for the purpose of electing a member or members of the board of education, shall be held on the second Tuesday in February, unless another date is established by the state legislature.  Every candidate for a position on the board shall file a notification and declaration for that office with the Pittsburg County election board between the hours of 8 a.m. on the first Monday in December and 5 p.m. on the following Wednesday.

To be eligible to file a notification and declaration of candi­dacy, the prospective candidate must have been a registered voter in the election district, or ward, and a resident residing within said election district for at least six months imme­diately preceding the filing period.  No person is eligible to be a candidate or to be elected to a board of education unless the person has been awarded a high school diploma or certificate of high school equivalency.

Board members shall be elected to serve a term of 3 (three) years or until such time as their successors are duly ap­pointed or elected and have qualified as prescribed by law.  Terms of office shall be staggered so that one member shall retire from the board each year. 

A vacancy on the board of education will occur by law when a board member:

   1.       Dies;

   2.       Resigns;

   3.       Moves out of the school district;

   4.       Fails to timely complete required workshop hours;

   5.       Is convicted of any felony or any offense involving a violation of the member's official oath;

   6.       Pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or any offense involving a violation of the member's oath;

   7.       Abandons the office; or,

   8.       Assumes the duty of a second public office when the holding of such office and being a board member violates the dual office-holding provisions of the law.  This does not apply to any elected or appointed member of a local school board who is a member or an officer of a volunteer fire department; and directors or officers of a rural water district, chiefs of municipal fire departments or rural fire districts who are appointed or elected to an unsalaried office, except where the duties of the office would create a conflict of interest.

   9.       Ceases to be a resident of the board district or ward for which the person was elected.

The board of education shall determine if and when a vacancy occurs on the board.  Such vacancy shall be filled by appointment and the appointee shall serve until the next regular election if the person is appointed to fill such vacancy in the first half of the term of office for the board position.  If the person is appointed to fill such vacancy after the first half of the term of office for the board position, then the appointee shall serve for the balance of the unexpired term.  If no one is appointed within sixty (60) days of the date the board declared the seat vacant, a special election shall be held and the elected member shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.

Each board member is expected to attend all board meetings.  If an emergency situation should arise which will pre­vent a board member from attending a scheduled meeting, the board member should notify the board president or the superintendent.  Four (4) or more consecu­tive unexcused absences from board meetings may constitute aban­donment of office and the board may declare the position vacant and fill the vacancy as prescribed by law.

BOARD VACANCIES (Cont.)

REFERENCE:    26 O.S. §13A-103, §13A-110

                                51 O.S. §6

                                70 O.S. §5-107A

                                70 O.S. §13A-105, §13A-110