Office of the Pima County School Superintendent

Pima County School Elections

Pima County Governing Board Vacancy Process

It should be understood that the philosophy of the Pima County School Superintendent follows the premise that governing board members should be elected by their constituents whenever possible.

Process the Pima County School Superintendent follows when there is a vacancy on a governing board of a school district in Pima County

    The County School Superintendent receives a letter of resignation from the governing board member or notice of a vacancy from the governing board.

   The County School Superintendent reviews conditions surrounding the vacancy which includes:

• Time remaining in the balance of the term of office
• Operational conditions existing within the local district
• Governing Board and administrative determination of ability to pay financial costs if a special election were called
• Availability of quality candidates for an appointment

    The County School Superintendent will make a decision to:

• Call a special election, or
• Make a governing board appointment, or
• Leave the position vacant until the next general election

    If a special election is called, an election timeline is established, all election forms are prepared and statutory regulations governing such an election are followed.

    If the County School Superintendent has determined that an appointment will best meet the needs of the community and the school district under consideration, the Superintendent will proceed with the following steps:

• Prepare a press release notifying the media of a board vacancy
• Notify the District Superintendent, the District Governing Board, and the Pima County Board of Supervisors of board vacancy and the appointment process
• Make candidate questionnaires available to interested candidates
• Candidates will be interviewed by a community group representing the school district. The community group submits a recommendation to the County School Superintendent who then takes all information under advisement and makes the appointment.
• The appointee is sworn in and presented a certificate of appointment by the County School Superintendent.
• The appointee completes the term until the next general election.

    A person who is a registered voter of this state and has been a resident of the school district for one year immediately preceding the day of election is eligible for appointment to the office of governing board member. No employee of a school district or the spouse of such employee may hold membership on a governing board of a school district by which such employee is employed. A.R.S. § 15-421.

    If the office is left vacant, the position will be on the ballot at the next general election.