To keep business moving forward after the resignation of three board members, the remaining two members of the Elizabeth School Board took steps to fill the vacant seats.

In a special March 16 meeting, Rhonda Olsen was name president of the board, replacing Cary Karcher, who resigned along with Vice President Kim Frumveller and Secretary Craig Blackham effective March 14.

Heather Booth was appointed vice president of the board.

Following legal advice, the remaining board member made a “declaration of an extraordinary event,” in order to keep conducting business and designate the new titles for Olsen and Booth.

Olsen and Booth also appointed Mary Powell to one of the three vacated seats. Powell is now the board secretary.

Olsen said Powell is involved, known and loved in the community.

“I am very honored to make a motion to appoint Mary to one of the vacant seats so we have a quorum,” she said.

According to the March 21 news release, Powell has been a resident of the Elizabeth School District for 22 years. She is a retired paralegal who worked with law firms that focused on business litigation and in corporate settings.

Powell was invited to serve on the district’s Policy Review Committee in February.

In a provided statement, Powell said, “I am excited to be part of a new time of healing and growth in our Elizabeth schools. I look forward to working with the board and Superintendent Snowberger to help achieve the best education and safest environment possible for our students.”

By appointing the third member, the board was able to vote on business, ratify actions taken on March 13 and move forward with appointing applicants to fill the vacated seats on the board.

No matter who is appointed to the board, they will only serve until the current terms expire. To remain o the board, new members will have to be chosen by voters in the November election.

Moving forward, the district said in a press release that the board will work to fill the remaining two vacancies over the next 60 days, which follows state law.

Residents of the district wanting to apply to serve on the school board can email the board at assistanttoboe@esdk12.org. The email should include a statement of interest and qualifications.

The deadline for submissions is March 31 at 5 p.m.

According to the district, applicants will be screened with five finalists to be selected and introduced to the community during the April 10 business meeting.

During that meeting, the board is expected to settle on the final two candidates, swear them in and immediately seat them to conduct business.