Edina School Board Lauds Resigning Member, Eyes Plans For Vacancy

EDINA, MN — Leny Wallen-Friedman, vice chair of the Edina Public Schools board, is set to resign at the end of May after serving for a decade.

The board accepted Wallen-Friedman’s resignation at its May 9 meeting and approved a resolution that says members will try to appoint a former board member to fill the vacant seat.

Whoever fills the seat will serve until a new member is chosen during a special election Nov. 8, the same day as the 2022 general election.

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The board said it plans to appoint a former member as it’s the quickest way to fill the seat for a short period of time.

Reappointing a former member would also allow the board to skip the application and interview process and reduce the amount of training they need before getting to work.

Members would also be able to remain neutral in the upcoming election by appointing someone who is not running, according to board documents.

The Edina Public Schools board is expected to provide more details about the process to appoint an interim member at its meeting Tuesday night.

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The board hopes to approve the appointment of an interim board member at its June 20 meeting. July 26 would be the first day the interim board member could serve as an active member, due to a 30-day waiting period required by law.

Their term is expected to last until mid-November, when election results are certified. The newly elected member will replace the interim member on the Edina Public Schools board and serve until December 2023, the end of Wallen-Friedman’s term.

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Wallen-Friedman must resign from the board because he’s moving to Connecticut, the Sun Current reported.

The board commended Wallen-Friedman for his 10 years of “devoted service” at its May 9 meeting, calling him a “very dedicated, pragmatic and strategic-minded” member.

“Wallen-Friedman has been a very valuable Board member in many different ways,” the board’s commendation states. “His years of experience provided a breadth and depth of knowledge to all discussions, and his expertise in finance and law always provided valuable context in many discussions.”

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Wallen-Friedman was a part of “many critical decisions,” including hiring two superintendents, developing two strategic plans and moving 9th grade to the high school level, officials said in the commendation.

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