When a member of Thomaston’s Board of Education resigns before the end of their term, voters do not immediately head back to the polls.

Instead, Connecticut law and Board of Education policy establish a process for temporarily filling the vacant seat, generally beginning with an appointment by the remaining members of the board.

Thomaston residents will see that process play out Monday, Sept. 14, when the Board of Education is scheduled to consider appointments to two vacant seats following the resignations of Matthew VanOrmer and Roxy Fainer.

But how does the process work, who chooses the replacement and when do voters get a say?

Who fills a vacant Board of Education seat?

Initially, the remaining members of the Board of Education do.

Connecticut law requires the remaining board members to fill a vacancy, while the Board of Education’s Bylaw 9221 lays out how that process works in town.

A vacancy is formally announced at a regular meeting and is filled at the next regularly scheduled meeting by a majority vote of the board members who are present. The board has 30 days to make the appointment. If there is no regular meeting scheduled during that period, the board can call a special meeting to fill the seat.

What happens if the board does not act within 30 days?

The responsibility can shift to the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Education policy states that after the 30-day period, the Board of Selectmen will make the appointment.

How does the Board of Education choose someone?

The appointment is made by the remaining members of the Board of Education.

Under the process outlined for the Sept. 14 meeting, Board of Education members themselves are expected to make nominations for each vacant seat before the board votes.

In past vacancies, Thomaston’s local political committees have also made recommendations or identified possible candidates. Those recommendations can help put names forward, but the the appointment is still made by members of the Board of Education.

Does the public vote on the replacement?

Not immediately. The initial replacement is appointed by the Board of Education rather than chosen through a special election.

Voters do eventually get a say.

Connecticut law provides that an appointed member serves until the next regular town election. If time remains on the original term, voters then elect someone to serve the rest of it.

How many votes does someone need to be appointed?

Thomaston’s policy requires a majority vote of the Board of Education members who are present. In other words, the number of votes needed can depend on attendance.

If all seven remaining members are present on Sept. 14, a nominee would need at least four votes to receive a majority.

Who can be appointed?

There are some limitations.

Board of Education members must be Thomaston residents, and an employee of the Thomaston Board of Education cannot also serve as a member of the board.

Political affiliation can also matter because Connecticut has rules intended to prevent one political party from holding too many seats on certain local boards.

Does the replacement have to be from the same political party?

Not necessarily.

Political affiliation only becomes a requirement if needed to comply with Connecticut’s minority-representation rules, which limit how many members of the same political party can serve on certain boards.

If appointing someone from a different party would cause the board to exceed that limit, the replacement must come from the same political party as the member who left.

In Thomaston, recent vacancies have also generally been filled by someone from the same political party as the departing member, but that is a matter of practice rather than a requirement.

How long does an appointed member serve?

An appointment does not necessarily last for the entire remainder of the former member’s term.

Connecticut law provides that an appointed Board of Education member serves until the next regular town election.

If time remains on the original term after that election, voters will choose someone to serve the rest of it. The appointment serves as a temporary way to keep the board operating at full capacity until voters have their next regular opportunity to weigh in.

When does the new member take office?

A newly appointed Board of Education member must take the oath of office before beginning their official duties. Once appointed and sworn in, the new member becomes a full member of the board.

For the Sept. 14 meeting, the Board of Education agenda includes the potential swearing-in of newly appointed members immediately after the vacancy votes.

The Board of Education is scheduled to meet Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in Meeting Room One at Thomaston Town Hall. The meeting can also be viewed live or afterward on the Board of Education’s YouTube channel.