Rochester CUSD 3A sets schedule to fill two board vacancies, applications due Nov. 20

The Rochester CUSD 3A Board of Education discussed two board vacancies and agreed on a timeline and application process to fill the seats before the December meeting.

Board members agreed to solicit applications, with a target deadline of Nov. 20 for submissions. The plan is to review applications in closed session on Dec. 2, conduct interviews on Dec. 4 if needed, and swear in appointees at the Dec. 11 board meeting. Staff reminded the board of the statutory appointment timeline and said if the board did not appoint within 60 days the Regional Office of Education would have authority to fill the seats.

Board members discussed whether to appoint candidates who are already running for the seat in the upcoming election (some members noted common practice discourages appointing candidates close to an election to avoid perceived advantage). The board directed staff to post the application online and in local media and to accept sealed applications addressed to the superintendent for closed-session review as allowed by board policy.