MPCSD plans to set special election date for board vacancy

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant Community School District (MPCSD) will hold a special election to fill the now-vacant District Two seat on the school board, following the resignation of board member Sarah Donnolly earlier this month.

According to guidance from the Iowa Association of School Boards, when a vacancy occurs on a school board, the board typically has two primary options: to appoint someone to fill the seat or to hold a special election. If the board chooses to appoint, that decision must be made within 30 days of the vacancy. However, this appointment can be overridden if a petition is filed by eligible voters, triggering a special election instead​.

The latter is exactly what the group Citizens of MPCSD for Change did.

The decision to set a time for a special election comes after a community petition — organized and circulated by Citizens of MPCSD for Change — gathered enough valid signatures to trigger a special election, as allowed under Iowa law.

“We received [the petition] last Wednesday … We were within that 10 days of the petition receipt,” Superintendent John Henriksen said during March 24 school board meeting. “We did receive from the auditor's office … the appropriate amount of signatures to call for special election for Director of district two.”

The petition was a result of strong local advocacy for public participation in the school board selection process.

“By allowing a special election to fill the vacant school board seat, we can ensure that the person holding authority is someone that the society deems fit for molding the future of our children,” Citizens of MPCSD for Change wrote in a public statement.

“We, the people of this community, call upon local lawmakers to pass legislation that mandates special elections to fill the vacant school board seat, thus allowing for a fair and democratic process that respects the will of the public,” the group’s statement continued.

The election is expected to be held between 60 and 70 days from the date of the vacancy, per Iowa Code.

Superintendent Henriksen outlined the legal procedure moving forward.

“This, according to policy … needs to happen between 60 days, not sooner than 60 days, not more than 70 days from the time of the vacancy,” he said. “And so we'll be working with the auditor's office to get all of the details on that.”

While only one candidate had officially applied for the seat at the time of the meeting, the field could expand in the coming weeks. To run, a candidate must reside within Director District Two.

“You'll have to live in director district two to run, however, we do vote at large,” Henriksen explained. “So, anyone living in our school district, a registered voter would be able to vote.”

According to Henriksen, the board is required to officially call the election within 30 days of receiving the petition. However, a provision does allow the board to unanimously block the election.

“If the board determines by unanimous vote that the proposition or propositions requested by petition are grossly unrealistic or contrary to the needs of the school district, no election shall be called,” Henriksen read from Iowa legislation 296.3 Election called.

Despite this clause, Superintendent Henriksen recommended that the board move forward and that School Board President Angie Blint call to set the time for the election at the next school board meeting on April 14.

Election coordination with the Henry County Auditor’s Office is currently underway. Final details, including the official election date and candidate filing deadlines, will be determined at that meeting.

For now, citizens interested in running for the seat — or voting in the upcoming election — are encouraged to stay informed and engaged.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com