Benson takes reins as school board chair; one vacancy remains
Lori Benson switches seats after fellow Libby Public School Board members elected her to head the panel on May 10. Benson replaced Ellen Johnston, who opted not to run for reelection this year. (Will Langhorne/The Western News)
Libby Public Schools Board was left with one vacant seat following this year’s district election.
While trustees Bgee Zimmerman, Ellen Johnston and Jeff Stevenson were each up for reelection on May 4, Zimmerman was the only one to file for candidacy. Newcomer Rob Delmas was the only other individual to submit paperwork for a seat.
To fill the empty chair, board members made a motion to declare the seat vacant during a May 10 school board meeting. Leslie Forster, district clerk, said administrators could then advertise the position, accept applications, conduct interviews and select a candidate. The district has 60 days to find a new member.
The deadline for candidates to apply for the position is June 4, according to a statement released by the district. Potential candidates may send a letter of interest to the board at 724 Louisiana Ave., Libby, MT 59923. The appointed applicant’s term will run until May 2022.
During the May 10 meeting, board members elected Lori Benson as the panel’s new chair. Zimmerman provided a motion and Alida Leigh offered a second.
Johnston, the board’s former chair, said she had held the position for eight years. She had been a member of the board since 2009, according to the district’s website.
Following a motion by Sam Rosling and a second by Leigh, trustees elected Zimmerman to replace George Woodruff as the board’s vice chair.
The board reappointed Forster as district clerk.