Scranton school board to advertise vacancy following Gilmartin resignation vote
The Scranton school board will fill the vacancy after voting to accept Director Katie Gilmartin's resignation.
Directors are expected to vote Monday to accept the resignation, which she submitted Friday. Following that vote, directors will have 30 days to fill the vacancy, according to board policy.
The board president can call a special meeting to fill the spot if the regular board meeting falls beyond the 30 day window.
If directors fail to appoint someone within 30 days, they can continue their efforts to fill the seat unless 10 or more residents file a petition with the Court of Common Pleas.
The board is required to advertise the vacancy for 10 days on the district website and social media and no more than three days in published media, according to the policy. Directors also are required to set a deadline for candidates to submit applications, resumes, letters of interest and statements of financial interest.
Directors will interview and select a candidate at a public meeting, using a scoring rubric to assess each one. The first candidate to receive an affirmative vote of the board majority will be appointed.
Board President Ty Holmes said the seat will be advertised, candidates will be interviewed and directors will vote on the seat within the 30 day timeframe.
'It's a standard process,' he said.
The candidate selected will serve the remainder of the term, which expires in December. The seat will be up for election in November, Holmes said.
Gilmartin's seat is one of four up for grabs on the board, along with those held by Holmes, Vice President Danielle Chesek and Director Sean McAndrew.
Gilmartin did not file paperwork to run for reelection in the May 20 primary election. Chesek is the only incumbent running for re-election. Holmes is not running for another term and McAndrew is seeking a Democratic nomination for one of three seats on Scranton City Council.
Six people are running in the May primary election for Scranton school board. They are Joe Brazil, Chesek, John Howe, Jenna Strzelecki and Julien Wells, all of whom cross filed as Democrats and Republicans, and former director Carol Cleary, who is seeking a Democratic nomination.
Gilmartin has served on the board since 2017 and was board president in 2020 and 2021.
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