The Blue Earth Area School Board filled an open seat on the board last Monday night, but the decision of who to choose was not an easy one.

The board took two votes to decide to appoint former BEA board member Jesse Haugh to fill the vacancy left when Lori Frisk-Thompson resigned in May.

There had been two people who applied for the position during a filing period that ended on June 22. Besides Haugh, Kristi Schonrock also applied. Both Haugh and Schonrock are from Winnebago.

School Board chairman Frankie Bly reported that he and Superintendent Evan Gough recommended appointing Haugh to fill the vacancy, as he had served nine years on the board, up to this past January.

However, a vote to do so failed to pass on a 3-3 tie. Bly, Mark Maher and Sheila Ripley voted yes, while Sara Hauskins, Amber Patton and Dawn Fellows voted no.

“I realize Jesse (Haugh) has nine years of experience on the board, but I think if there were two applicants, the board should hear from both of them before making a decision,” board member Amber Patton said. “We should be able to hear why they applied, what experience they have it would be beneficial to hear them; what would it hurt?”

However, Superintendent Gough did have a reason. Because of a change in state law that was taking effect two days later on July 1, the board could only appoint someone before July 1.

“The law did not specify this before, but because of the new law taking effect on Wednesday, things are different,” Gough said. “Now the board will be required to hold a special election to fill the open spot if a decision is not made tonight.”

And, according to Gough and fiscal services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi, that special election would cost a minimum of $5,000 to hold.

Bly asked Patten if she was willing to cost the school district $5,000 for a special election.

Maher said he was comfortable with appointing Haugh as the right choice.

“Jesse has the experience and will be able to contribute right now, with no training needed,” he said. “I think we need to do this and then have an interview process the next time.”

Fellows said she was willing to change her vote on the matter, given the information concerning the election.

A second vote to appoint Haugh passed by a 4-2 margin, with Patten and Hauskins still voting no.

“I think we need to rethink the way we do this,” Patten said. “We need to have an interview process with the whole board.”

Bly said the board members should make their wishes known next time, before the process starts.

Haugh will start serving with the July meeting and will serve until January of 2017, unless he runs for and is elected to a full term at the November 2016 election.

Gough explained after the meeting that at the November 2016 election, four board members terms will be up.

“We will have an election to fill three 4-year terms and one 2-year term,” Gough said. “The two year term would be for the second half of the one Jesse Haugh is filling in for now.”