The Warren County School District is looking for a new school board member.

At its organizational meeting Monday, the board heard that newly-elected member Chloe Shaffer would not accept the position.

The board subsequently heard from Warren County Board of Elections Solicitor Nathaniel Schmidt.

“In this case, she was a candidate,” Schmidt said. She “cannot simply withdraw from an election. There’s no provision in the Election Code that the second place vote getter automatically assumes the right to take that office.”

He said it would be his recommendation that the position be considered vacant.

“Under the law the school board now has the right to appoint the new director to fill that vacancy,” Schmidt said.

So, on Friday, the district announced that it will accept applications for the vacant Region II seat: “Applicants are required to be at least 18 years of age and reside in Region II, which encompasses the boroughs of Clarendon and Tidioute and the townships of Cherry Grove, Conewango, Deerfield, Eldred, Limestone, Mead, Pleasant, Sheffield, Triumph, and Watson.”

The appointee will fill the position for two years, at which time there will be an election to name the board member who will then serve out the rest of the term through December 2025, according to the announcement.

“The person appointed will be expected to attend monthly committee meetings, as well as monthly meetings of the board,” according to the announcement.

Applications are available through the school district website at www.wcsdpa.org. Questions may be directed to Board Secretary Ruth Huck at (814) 723-6900 ext. 1032 or huckr@wcsdpa.org.

“Interviews and voting to appoint the Region II board member will take place on Monday, Dec. 20, at a special meeting via Zoom,” according to the announcement.