Del Mar school district seeks second board candidate, may appoint new member on Aug. 6

The Del Mar Union School District will go through the process of adding a board member by appointment for the second time this year after the June 18 resignation of board member Alan Kholos.

Kholos left the board because he is relocating abroad for a one-year assignment with CareFusion, now part of global medical technology company Becton Dickinson. The candidate would be appointed to fill the rest of his four-year term, up for re-election in November 2016.

President Doug Rafner said he has confidence they will find a worthy replacement and noted the process worked well last time, resulting in new board member Erica Halpern.

“We were sorry to see Alan resign,” Rafner said. “He was a very good and helpful board member and an asset to our district. We wish him well.”

At its June 24 meeting, the board decided to forgo the $280,000 to $350,000 cost of a special election and instead go through the appointment process they used in March when they appointed Halpern to replace outgoing board member Doug Perkins. The board had 11 candidates apply to fill that post.

“We had a lot of good quality applicants last time, so I think we will have the same,” said board member Scott Wooden.

As the board by law has 60 days to make an appointment, it approved a tight timeline making applications available on Friday, June 26. Applications can be picked up at the district office at 11232 El Camino Real or online at dmusd.org and must be received no later than 4 p.m. July 27.

A special board meeting will be held at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6. Candidates will be interviewed in a public process and the oath of office will be administered to the candidate the board selects.

All applicants must be registered voters living within the district boundaries.