CALN >> Coatesville Area Board members have 30 days to replace a newly elected board member who resigned on Monday.
Bob Knecht, a Republican who was recently elected in November 2017 to represent Region III, announced his resignation on Monday in a letter addressed to Coatesville schools Superintendent Cathy Taschner.
“Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position on the Coatesville Area School Board,” Knecht wrote. “I wish you and the members of the school board the best in guiding the district in the future.”
When reached for comment, Knecht said he resigned for personal reasons and said that he needs to spend more time with his family. The terms for the new school board members began this month.
Laurie Knecht and Brenda Geist, the two previously seated Region III board directors, did not prevail in the election. Bob Knecht replaced Laurie Knecht (no relation), and Rob Fisher replaced Geist, who won a two-year term in the last election. Region III includes East Fallowfield, Sadsbury, Modena, West Caln and South Coatesville.
In the November election, Amelia Mills, a Democrat who is a retired educator, also sought a Region III seat which only had two openings. Additionally during the election, Democrat challenger Brandon Rhone defeated incumbent Republican Deborah Thompson in Region I which includes Valley and Coatesville. Rhone is a national trainer and Thompson is an R.N.
The board has 30 days from the resignation date to fill a vacancy. The school board policy states the following: if the board fails to act within 30 days to fill the vacancy or is unable to attain a majority vote of the remaining board members, it may continue its efforts to fill the vacancy, unless 10 or more resident taxpayers file a petition with the Court of Common Pleas. If the board fails to act within 30 days to fill the vacancy and no petition is filed with the court, the board may vote beyond the 30-day deadline to appoint a candidate to fill the vacancy.
The board will deliberate at an advertised public meeting regarding the selection of a candidate to fill a vacancy. Following deliberation, the board will vote at the open meeting on the appointment of a candidate. A majority vote of the seated board members will be required to fill a vacancy.
“The board will strive to appoint a candidate with a deep commitment to public education and to all students in the district,” the policy states.
The application form is posted on the school district website, www.casdschools.org. Board members serve a four-year term. Applicants have to be at least 18 years of age and have lived in the respective area of the region seat for at least one year prior to the date of their appointment.
