The Harlan County Board of Education is now taking applications to fill a vacant seat after 19-year board member Brenda Henson submitted her resignation earlier this month. Henson’s resignation was accepted by the board during a regular monthly meeting on July 18.

Superintendent Brent Roark and board chairman Gary Farmer commended Henson for her work, noting the diligence and persistence put forth for the betterment of the schools and especially the children of Harlan County.

“Brenda has served us well and I think we should honor her wishes of how she wants to do this,” Roark said during the meeting. “She was always incredibly supportive of me since I’ve been here. She was adamant about not doing anything for her.”

Roark said the board “reluctantly” accepted her resignation and notified the county clerk’s office on Friday.

Roark said there are new procedures the board must follow, giving the board 30 days to notify that the seat needs filled and another 60-day window to fill it. Prior to the change in the law, the Kentucky Commissioner of Education made an appointment to the vacant seat.

The vacant seat represents Harlan County Public Schools District 1, which includes Catrons Creek, Grays Knob, Cawood, Cranks, Smith and other communities. An appointment must be made by late September until the November General Election.

The board will accept applications for the next two weeks, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Office of the Superintendent until Aug. 2.

To be eligible to apply, candidates must:

• Be at least 24 years old;

• Be registered to vote in the school board District 1;

• Be a three-year citizen of Kentucky;

• Not have immediate relatives working in the school district;

• Be able to attend extensive training the first year of office and specified continuing education training each remaining year.

The eligible candidates seeking appointment, and then running for the office in November, must submit a letter of intent and an application, confirming their eligibility to serve. Candidates must also supply a copy of their high school transcripts to show they completed the 12 grade or a high school equivalency diploma, such as a GED. This is law enacted in 2018.

The board will review applications and hold interviews during closed sessions, then make a final vote on their appointment in an open meeting. The board has not yet scheduled the meeting date.

Because of the timing of the resignation, whomever the board appoints will also have to run for election this November to bring the decision to voters at the next possible opportunity. Any candidates wishing to apply for the position should also file for that election in the office of Harlan County Court Clerk Donna Hoskins.

Anyone seeking the seat will have an opportunity to compete in the fall election, regardless of whether he/she wins the board’s appointment. The winner of the fall election will also have to run for reelection in 2020, due to the seat’s regularly scheduled term expiring at the end of 2020. At that point, the candidate who is voted in will serve a four-year term.

Farmer said persons seeking the office should “be dedicated to serving the children of Harlan County. It requires a lot of time, not just an hour or so per month for a board of education meeting.”

He noted that board members represent schools within their district and the district as a whole, and are expected to be responsive to their constituents and have a presence at community events in their schools.

Applications are available on the Harlan County School District website and at the central office located at 251 Ball Park Road in Harlan.