Westonka school board seat opens

Last update: December 5, 2007 - 10:57 PM

Westonka school board Vice Chairman Chuck Walerius will resign after the board's Monday meeting. He told Superintendent Kevin Borg of his plans in a letter Borg received on Tuesday.

Walerius is moving out of the district to be closer to his job in Owatonna. His term ends in January 2010.

The resignation has raised questions among some residents, including incoming school board member Tom Notch, about how the board will fill the vacated seat.

During the school board election, Notch and another newly elected board member, Gary Hejna, supported another candidate, Ray Salazar, who received the fifth-highest number of votes in the election. There were four available seats. Notch says Salazar should get the job.

Borg said the board has contacted neighboring school districts to review their policies for filling vacant seats but has not yet discussed the issue in detail.

PATRICE RELERFORD