Item Coversheet

ALAMEDA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD AGENDA ITEM

Item Title:Options for Filling a Vacancy on the Board of Education (10 Mins/Action)
Item Type:Action
Background:

With the recent resignation of Board Clerk Jennifer Williams, there is currently a vacant seat on AUSD's Board of Education. Board Bylaw 9223 outlines the two options for filling a vacant Board seat: calling a special election, or appointing an applicant.

 

A special election can cost upwards of $900,000*. If the Board chooses to appoint a new Board member, there is no cost, and the interview and selection process must be done publicly. The Board must act to fill the seat within 60 days of the date of resignation (October 11, 2026).

 

Tonight, Board members will  discuss their two options and take action to decide which process they would like to follow to fill the vacant Board seat. 

 

* Estimate based on the November 7, 2023 OUSD District 5 special election:$598,438.54 ÷ 25,483 registered voters = $23.48/voter. Applied to approximately 50,000 AUSD registered voters = approximately $1 million. Actual cost would be determined by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

AUSD LCAP Goals:
Fund Codes:01 General Fund
Fiscal Analysis

Amount (Savings) (Cost):

Special Election: Estimate of upwards of $900k based on price of OUSD District 5 Special Election in 2023. Actual cost would be determined by Alameda County Registrar of Voters. Appointment: None
Recommendation:Other

The Board will take action to select a provisional candidate by choosing ne of the following options:

  • Call a special election
  • Appoint an applicant 
AUSD Guiding Principle:#4 - Parental involvement and community engagement are integral to student success.| #5 - Accountability, transparency, and trust are necessary at all levels of the organization.
Submitted By:Pasquale Scuderi, Superintendent
ATTACHMENTS:
DescriptionUpload DateType
Presentation - Options for Filling Board Vacancy8/21/2026Presentation
Board Bylaw 9223 Filling Vacancies (reviewed 1.14.25)9/24/2025Backup Material