By Lexi MooreHills-Beaver Creek School Board members met Monday to discuss what action they will take to fill the vacant board seat.Board Member Matt Larson announced his resignation at the March 25 meeting. His final meeting was on May 23.Gary Esselink, on behalf of the personnel committee, presented the board with four options for handling the vacant seat.üThe board can appoint a former board member.üThe board can appoint an individual from the community.üThe board can solicit names from the community. üThe board can select a person based on discussion in an open meeting.Before deciding, the board discussed the fact that 2005 is a school board election year, so an appointed person would serve through December. At that time the seat would be open to the candidate chosen in open election.Board members were hesitant to appoint someone who hasn’t served on the board before because they wouldn’t have enough time to learn the process before either running for election or being replaced."This is a short-lived position, and we wouldn’t want to give an unfair advantage to someone running in the fall," said board chairman Alan Harnack.Following a brief discussion the board agreed that former board member Roland Crawford would be best suited for the appointment because he was the last individual to leave the board.Lois Leuthold made a motion to nominate Roland Crawford to finish out the remainder of Matt Larson’s term on the H-BC School Board. The motion was seconded by Lloyd DeBoer and approved by the board.Although the board approved the nomination, it won’t be official unless Crawford accepts the position.The board also voted to approve a resolution establishing dates for filing affidavits of candidacy for the fall election.There are four four-year terms up for re-election this fall. They are currently occupied by board members Tim Baker, Matt Larson (recently vacated), Harnack and Leuthold.The resolution outlined the election process.üThe period for filing affidavits of candidacy for the office of school board member begins on July 5, 2005, and closes on July 19 at 4 p.m.üAffidavits for candidacy are available from the school district clerk in Hills for a $2 filing fee.üA candidate for office must be an eligible voter, 21 or more years of age, have been a resident of the school district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the general election and have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the same general election.üNotice of the filing dates will be posted and advertised in accordance with the law.üThe general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005. At that election, four members will be elected to the school board for terms of four years each.The motion to pass the resolution was made by Esselink and seconded by Ann Boeve.In other school news:üThe board authorized $30,000 for Superintendent David Deragisch to purchase a used bus.Deragisch confirmed with the H-BC auditor that the money was available due to the board’s fiscal responsibility over the past year.He will begin shopping for a used bus and hopes to make the purchase during the summer months. He will contact the H-BC transportation committee with details before making the purchase.Currently H-BC has six buses; the additional bus would put less pressure on the school district when buses are in need of repair.üDeragisch presented the board with a letter of resignation on behalf of high school special education teacher Jennifer Madsen.Madsen took a position at a school near Vermillion, S.D., which is closer to her home and family."I enjoyed teaching at Hills-Beaver Creek and will miss the students, staff and the administration. Thank you again for your support and guidance over the past year."Although Deragisch admits that this is a hard loss, he is confident the school district will be able to handle the situation.üH-BC School Board members passed three policies during their Monday meeting.The new version of Policy 210 was adopted. The new version of the policy would not allow board members’ earnings from the school district to exceed $8,000 in one fiscal year. Board members receiving more than that amount would have a conflict of interest in serving on the board and would need to either step down from their position or stop working for the school.The original version of the policy limits earnings to $5,000. üThe new version of Policy 211 was amended to include the words "juvenile justice" under the Criminal Charges or Conduct section of the policy.The addition of these words gives the school authority to release educational and personnel data to juvenile justice and law enforcement authorities.üThe final policy adopted was Policy 213. This policy mandates that school districts appoint board members to the following standing committees: finance, policy, building and grounds and negotiations.