School Board Seeks Harper Replacement

The Moorpark school board could decide today whether to appoint a replacement for Clint Harper, who resigned earlier this month after being elected to the City Council on Nov. 3.

The board could decide to leave the decision up to voters in an election.

Supt. Thomas Duffy and board President David Pollock have indicated that the board could function with four members until an election. But the school district missed the deadline to register with the county elections office--120 days in advance--for a March election.

If the district were to let voters decide, officials say, they would prefer putting it on the ballot of the next scheduled election rather than holding a costly special election. The next election is in June, too late for some board members.

“We need to fill that seat as soon as possible,” said board member Tom Baldwin. “We have some big issues coming up with redistricting.”

The school board will hold a special meeting at 4:45 p.m. today at the district office, 30 Flory Ave., to vote on how to replace Harper.

If the board opts to appoint Harper’s replacement, members are bracing for a community effort to force an election.

In 1993, a citizens group gathered enough signatures to overturn an appointment and force a special election.

In the event of an appointment, board members want to leave the district enough time to register with the county for the June election, Pollock said.

Otherwise, the board may have to hold a costly special election or function with four members until November.

To avoid that scenario, the board would have to appoint a member by early January, Pollock said.