Two In the Running for Open School Board Seat—So Far

Twelve days remain for those who wish to apply for a vacancy on the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Board of Education.

So far there are only two contenders for the position, which opened up following the recent resignation of Paula Teiken, who ceded her seat mid-term due to an impending move. The district reports that the two candidates thus far are: Colleen Smith, 13993 Yosemite Avenue South in Savage, and Scott Hume, 804 E. 134th Street in Burnsville. 

The relatively small pool of hopefuls stands stands in contrast to 2011, when 10 people went out for a seat on the board after longtime Member Gail Morrison left. The board appointed Bob VandenBoom to the position, but many of whom made encore appearances in the 2012 school board race.

Eligible candidates must be 21 years of age or older. In addition, candidates must be able to demonstrate at least 30 days of residency within the district. The office is not open to those who are required to register as predatory offenders with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. 

Eligible candidates will be interviewed by sitting board members at a public work session on May 2. The appointee will be selected at the board's mid-month meeting on May 18. The board will select its seventh member by a simple majority vote. The chosen candidate will be sworn in on June 6. They will serve until December 2014, when Teiken's term would have expired.

Board members typically spend 20 to 40 hours a month on district duties. In exhcange, each gets a stipend of $500 per month. 

The application deadline is 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30.