And the Visalia Unified School District, which educates the most children in Tulare County, is looking for an additional board member, but the deadline is fast approaching.

On November 9, current administrator Christopher Pope resigned from the board after an investigation confirmed he made “negative sexual orientation” comments to a gay teacher during a lunch meeting regarding a proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month for the LGBTQ community. Pope’s resignation came 11 months after the start of his four-year term, which began after ousting incumbent Lucia Vazquez in last November’s election. Trustee Area 6 is centrally located on the district boundaries in northern Visalia, bounded by Mooney Boulevard to the west, Bridge Street to the east, Riverway Drive to the north, and Mineral King Avenue to the south.

The board established a similar format for filling Pope’s Zone 6 seat by interim appointment, used to nominate Cataline Blair as Zone 4 administrator earlier this month. On Thursday, December 2, a selection committee will publish the names of the candidates who will be invited to participate in an interview. On Thursday, December 9, the board will interview candidates for the vacant position at a public meeting. The Board of Directors will then consider making the provisional appointment and the successful candidate will take the oath of office.

Whoever the board appoints to the position will sit until the next regular election, which will take place in November 2022. At that time, Zone 6 voters will elect a candidate for the remainder of the term until 2024.

Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, be citizens of California, registered on the electoral roll, and reside in Trusteeship Zone 6. The nomination file can be picked up in person at the Visalia Unified School District office, 5000 W. Cypress Avenue, Visalia. Interested applicants should complete the application and mail it to the VUSD district office or email to Acting Superintendent Doug Cardoza at [email protected] by 4:00 pm on November 29, 2021. For more information, please contact the office of Superintendent VUSD at 559-730-7522.