OXFORD – The Oxford Academy school board is seeking to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacant position.

Following the recent resignation of board member Joseph Spence, the board has decided to appoint a replacement per board law, stating: “Whenever a vacancy occurs other than because of the expiration of a board member’s term of office or because of an increase in the size of the board, the board ‘shall’ appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.”

The board acknowledged two options to resolve the situation. The Oxford school board law states that the board may call for a special election within 90 days of the vacancy in which case the replacement would serve for the remainder of the term. The board may also choose to appoint a replacement that would serve “only until the next regular school district election.”

According to Secretary to the Superintendent and District Clerk Michelle Rice, the board chose the latter, which will mean the appointee will serve until the district election in May.