Judge selects new member for Cal Area School Board
A judge has selected a new member to fill out the California Area School Board.
Following a hearing Monday at the Washington County Courthouse, Judge Brandon Neuman selected Kim Leasure to serve on the board to fill the vacancy created by Diane Zielensky when she resigned Sept. 17.
The school board originally selected Leasure for the position, but waited until Oct. 28 to make the appointment, which was outside the 30-day window to take action on the seat.
Allenport resident Kayle Kowalsky questioned the timeline of that decision and filed a petition challenging it in court. Neuman ruled the board’s appointment was outside the 30-day window and that Kowalsky’s petition on Oct. 21 gave the courts the power to make the selection.
Neuman asked interested candidates to participate in a hearing at the courthouse Monday, although only Leasure and Kowalsky attended. Neuman ultimately appointed Leasure to the position, and she will now join the California Area School Board as a voting member.