The Rancho Santa Fe School Board could not make a decision on how to move forward to fill a board vacancy left by John Tree’s resignation, tabling the issue until their next meeting.

Under the California Education Code, school boards have 60 days from the date the resignation is filed to make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy or call for a special election, giving the board a deadline of Aug. 17. According to the district’s attorney Kendall Swanson, if the board does opt for an election, it would be consolidated with the upcoming November general election. If the board takes no action, the seat would simply stay vacant until November.

The board was split 2-2 both on whether to appoint someone or to wait for November.

Vice President Rosemarie Rohatgi and Trustee Paul Seitz believed that they should fill the vacancy now.

“I think we have to have someone else, just to make sure we get all of our meetings done,” Seitz said. “It’s important to have a five-man team.”

President Annette Ross and Clerk Jee Manghani supported waiting for the election, noting that an appointment could cause controversy.

“Rancho Santa Fe has a history of people believing that we appoint people on the board during an election year to help them get elected later in the fall and I don’t want the appearance of that at all,” Manghani said. “I think we function as a four member board and let the candidates run on their own merits,” Manghani said.

From 2011 to 2016, there was a pattern of provisional board member appointments after resignations, with the appointed members going on to be elected. After a third appointment in 2017, a parent-filed petition forced a special election.

Seitz pointed out that the 2-2 votes illustrated the need for a fifth board member, even if it’s just for four months. Ross said the August timeline could be challenging, with no decision made that day and several board member vacations scheduled in July.

“Logistically in 60 days I don’t think we can get it done,” she said.

“We got a superintendent in two days, we can move mountains if we have to,” Seitz said.

The board plans to discuss the vacancy at their next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, July 23 at 9 a.m.