by Tony Gray
posted 04 November 2021

WHITEHALL, NY -- One-third of Whitehall Central School District's Board of Education resigned in the last few months and their seats remain vacant.

Thomas Baker resigned August 27 because he moved. George Armongstrong's September 1 resignation stated moving as his reason for resigning. Hope Greene cited "personal reasons" for her August 13 resignation. Their departure has put the board in a tough spot because state Education Law requires five members for a nine-member board to constitute a quorum. That means pretty much all serving Board of Education members must show up in order to conduct school board meetings.

District Clerk Heather Morcombe informed trustees during their last meeting that the district extended the previous deadline for applications to fill the vacant seats because they had nobody apply before the deadline. She expressed confidence that situation would change soon, saying the district was waiting on a couple of letters.

"We need some board members," Trustee Richard LaChapelle said during the regular October board meeting. The board currently has six serving members and three vacant seats.

"There are three vacancies and three individuals have expressed interest in filling them until the elections in May," said Superintendent of Schools Patrick Dee Thursday, adding the timeframe is now closed for interested parties to apply for an interim appointment.

Superintendent Dee said he believes the Board of Education will appoint three individuals to fill the empty seats during its regular November meeting but those appointments carry temporary terms that expire next Spring.

"The appointments will be only until the May election," Dee said. "Individuals will need to run for the positions and be elected by the public if they wish to continue, at that point."

According to the New York State School Boards Association, a school board must transact business by adopting resolutions or motions at a duly convened meeting.

As a corporate body, a school board must transact business by adopting resolutions or motions at a duly convened meeting, which means a quorum of five members need to be present for Whitehall's nine-member Board of Education to conduct school business.

State Education Law requires most resolutions and motions to be adopted by a majority of the whole board, not simply a majority of those present. Where it can get sticky is when the board considers things that legally require a super-majority For instance, a 2/3 vote requirement would mean all six serving members would have to be present and vote in favor of the motion.

Some examples of items that require a super majority to become enacted:

• employing or appointing to tenure a teacher who is a relative of a school board member either by blood or marriage (2/3 vote required)
• discontinuing a designated textbook within five years of adoption (3/4 vote required)
• placing a proposition before the voters for an object or purpose for which bonds may be issued, such as a capital project (3/5 vote required)
• making an emergency expenditure from the district's Repair Reserve Fund (2/3 vote required)