Whittier : School Board to Decide How to Fill Trustee Vacancy

Trustees of the East Whittier City School District must decide whether to have a special election or appoint a replacement for board member Paula Hodgin, who resigned last month so that she and her husband could become commercial truck drivers.

A special election would cost about $65,000, Supt. Dorothy F. Fagan said. The school board could make its decision as soon as Monday’s meeting.

“I’m going to recommend appointing someone and opening it to anyone who wishes to apply,” Fagan said. Hodgin’s board term lasts until November, when three of the five board seats will be on the ballot.

Trustees faced a similar decision a year ago when member Cathy Warner resigned after winning election to another local school board. East Whittier trustees opted to appoint former board member Carl Moore to fill the vacancy after 11 people applied, Fagan said.

The school system serves about 7,700 students in 10 elementary schools and three middle schools.