The sudden resignation of Wayne Storey from the Ellenville School Board has left the district scrambling to find a replacement. At the board meeting on Tuesday, June 14, Superintendent Lisa Wiles ran through the options. One was to appoint someone to complete Storey’s term. A second was to hold a special election for that one seat. The election would have to be held within 90 days of Storey’s resignation. The third option would be to have the BOCES president select someone. A fourth option would be to leave the seat vacant until the next election, next year.

The board has its annual reorganization meeting coming up on July 5, which brought up the idea that the vacancy should be addressed swiftly, so as to have a complete board by that date.

Board member John Burns said the expense of a special election was too much and he didn’t like the idea of the BOCES president appointing someone; he felt the district should appoint someone itself. That seemed to fit with what other board members were thinking.

So the discussion moved to when and how. The idea of a deadline by June 28, the next board meeting date, seemed too short a time for Lisa Ramirez and Julius Collins. But Burns was ready for the June 28 date. Iris Friedman thought a little more time was essential. Jody Little thought more time was a good idea as well. Board President Phil Mattracion was okay with June 28.

The drastic situation at Rondout Valley was mentioned, where only a few candidates appeared for a number of seats on the board.

A vote was taken and by a 4-3 margin, more time will be used. However, the board felt that getting it done by the reorganization meeting would be important and since that is July 5, the name or names of those to be selected will need to be circulated among the board members by July 1.

Mattracion thanked Geneva May for her service on the board. This was her last meeting. She said she had greatly enjoyed her time back in Ellenville and serving on the board for the school district that she attended.

Meanwhile the senior prom will be held on June 17, and graduation will take place at 6 p.m. on June 24.