IRVINE : Schools to Appoint New Board Member

The school board decided this week to appoint someone to fill a vacant seat on the panel.

People interested in the post can get applications at Irvine Unified School District headquarters, 5050 Barranca Parkway. Applications are due by Jan. 11.

The appointee will serve out the one year remaining on the term of Greg Smith, who left the school board this week to join the Irvine City Council, to which he was elected in November. State government codes prohibit anyone from being a member of both a school board and a city council.

The school board had the choice of appointing someone or calling a special election, which would have cost the district $40,000 or more.

“I think the public recognizes that we are in a tight financial situation,” board President Margie Wakeham said. “I think they’d prefer for us to use (the money) in the classroom.”

The district has scheduled a candidates’ forum for Jan. 18. The forum, to be sponsored by the PTA and district employee unions, will be broadcast on cable television.

The board will make its selection at a public meeting on Jan. 25, Wakeham said. The first candidate to receive the support of three of the four board members will be appointed.