School Board Member Appointment Process

When a governing board vacancy is declared, whether mid-term or because no candidate has come forward to run for a seat, the County School Superintendent is authorized by statute to appoint a qualified elector from the district to fill the seat. 

Filling a governing board vacancy is covered under Arizona Revised Statute 15-302.A.3.:

Appoint governing board members of school districts to fill all vacancies, but the term of the appointment shall be until the next regular election for governing board members, at which time a successor shall be elected to serve the unexpired portion of the term. A person who is subject to registration as a sex offender in this state or in any other jurisdiction is ineligible for appointment under this paragraph. Within thirty days after notification of a vacancy, the school district governing board may submit up to three names to the county school superintendent for consideration of an appointment to fill the vacancy. The county school superintendent is not required to appoint a governing board member from the list of names submitted by the governing board. The county school superintendent, if the county school superintendent deems it in the best interest of the community, may call a special election to fill the vacancies. If an election is called, the newly elected member shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired portion of the term.