A controversial resolution proposed by the Forest Lake School Board to accept the resignation of a school board member at Thursday night’s meeting and immediately appoint his successor has been pulled from the agenda.
Instead the school board will vote on Thursday night to accept the resignation of School Board Member Luke Hagglund, effective at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, and then vote on a resolution to determine the process and timeline for filling his vacancy.
Hagglund, whose term expires on Jan. 4, 2027, told the Pioneer Press earlier this week that he is resigning due to “personal reasons.”
By law, Hagglund’s seat must be filled by appointment and then put up for a vote at the next school board election.
According to the original agenda for Thursday’s board meeting, the board planned to vote on a resolution appointing Forest Lake resident Scot Doboszenski to fill the remainder of Hagglund’s term. Hagglund told the Pioneer Press that he planned to vote on Doboszenski’s appointment.
An attorney for Education Minnesota, however, sent a letter to Board Chairman Curt Rebelein on Wednesday stating that the vote would be illegal.
“Before member Hagglund’s resignation becomes effective, the board will vote on an appointment to fill his vacancy that does not yet exist,” attorney Jonathan Reiner wrote. “Further, Hagglund himself could vote on the appointment to fill his vacancy. Voting on an appointment that does not exist and allowing Hagglund to vote on his successor violates the law. … Only remaining members of the board may vote to fill the vacancy.”
The new resolution, to be voted on Thursday night, calls for the board to discuss and determine the process and timeline to fill the board vacancy.
“The vacancy must be filled by board appointment by a resolution entered in the minutes and shall be effective 30 days following the adoption of the resolution,” the resolution states. “If the appointment becomes effective, it shall continue for the remainder of the unexpired term. Because the vacancy occurs less than two years prior to the expiration of the term, no special election is required and the appointee of the board shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.”
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