By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Community School Board held a special meeting last night to interview applicants for their vacant school board seat and to appoint a new school board member. The vacancy was created when former school board president Charlie Comfort announced his resignation, effective May 14. Two individuals were nominated at the end of the discussion: Sharma Parlett and Scott Van Veldhuizen.

After the board discussed the qualifications of the two candidates, they held three rounds of voting, and all three rounds were split down the middle, 3-3. Board members Matt Sherlock, Aaron Hinnah, and Sarah Hall voted for Parlett, while board members Kathy Butler, Amanda McGraw, and Clint O’Day voted for Van Veldhuizen. 

After the first two rounds, superintendent Mike Fisher said that putting Van Veldhuizen on the board could present a conflict of interest.

Board member Amanda McGraw responded to Dr. Fisher by saying it wasn’t appropriate to discuss a candidate in that way.

As a result of the tied vote, the board decided to table the appointment process until their next regular meeting on June 10.

Board president Kathy Butler noted that Iowa code stipulates that school boards have 30 days from the date of the vacancy to make an appointment, otherwise the vacancy must be filled by a special election. Superintendent Fisher noted that such an election could cost the district approximately $10,000. The next regular meeting on June 10 does fall within that 30 day window. Butler said that the two candidates will automatically be nominated during that next meeting, and the board will consider other candidates in the meantime as well.