District Will Appoint Vadehra's Replacement, Avoiding Costly Election

CALABASAS, CA — The Las Virgenes Unified School District on Dec. 13 voted to directly appoint a replacement for late board member Kate Vadehra, avoiding a costly special election.

Vadehra died on Nov. 26 after an 18-month "battle" with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), according to Superintendent Dan Stepenosky.

"Kate’s dedication to your students was an inspiration to all of us. She was an amazing Board Member who always led with her heart, and always led with the lens of making decisions that were best for students. She was a joy to be around and had the ability to lift up everyone around her."

The board on Dec. 13 weighed two options to fill the vacancy: hold a special election or directly appoint a provisional member with a board vote. A special election would cost at least $300,000, and the election would not happen until November 2023, according to an agenda report. The cost and timeline were significant deterrents for voting board members.

The newly appointed board member will serve until the next regular election in November 2024.

The board will accept applications for the board seat until 4 p.m. on January 6, 2023. Applications can be submitted via email, regular mail or by hand to the Superintendent's Office, located at 4111 Las Virgenes Rd. On January 13, 2023, a list of candidates will be posted in the agenda for the district's special meeting on January 17.

On January 17, the board will interview applicants, take public comment and appoint a board member.

Prospective board members must meet basic eligibility qualifications, like being 18 years old, a resident of the district, a citizen of the state and a registered voter. The applicant cannot have any criminal history disqualified by state or constitutional law. The board will decide whether eligible candidates will be publicly interviewed.