Horry County Schools debating process to fill Kay Loftus’ seat

The Horry County Board of Education hopes to replace the late Kay Loftus’ seat by the end of May, but they may let the electorate decide on the newest member.

The board met Monday for the first time after Loftus’ death. Loftus, who represented district 4, passed away Feb. 29 at the age of 66. She served on the board for 14 years.

She was known for her dedication to student learning and longterm knowledge of Horry County Schools. Joe DeFeo, board chairman, remembered her as an educator rather than a politician.

"She really had that attitude during her time here,” he said.

The district drafted a vacancy timeline to fill Loftus’ seat, which legally must be filled in three months. The district hopes to have a new member sworn in by May 23 at the board’s regular meeting.

Unlike other boards, vacancies on the board of education are filled by appointment by the board until the next election, according to staff attorney Kenneth Generette. Loftus’ term was set to expire in December 2016.

"This is just a draft for your consideration, it’s not set in stone,” Generette said.

However, since Loftus’ term will expire this year, her seat is up for reelection. Board members said they would rather appoint someone who files to run for the expiring seat.

"If there are only candidates in one party, the board can appoint that person individually and not have interviews,” DeFeo said.

Anyone running for the expired seat must file by March 30, and by that time the district should know who is interested in the seat, DeFeo said.

The timeline is the real trouble. Because the district has to fill the position in 90 days, Generette suggested advertising the position later this month.

According to Generette’s drafted timeline, the vacancy will be advertised for one week starting March 23 in four area newspapers, including The Sun News. The position will also be posted on the district’s website and on the district’s TV channel.

Anyone who resides in district 4 can apply for the position, Generette said. District 4 includes St. James, Socastee, Myrtle Beach and areas of Carolina Forest.

The deadline to file for the position is April 13, with possible board interviews during a specially called meeting on May 2. The board can then appoint a new member by May 9, and that member will be sworn in by May 23, accruing to the timeline.

Either way, the process won’t be easy. John Poston, district 8 representative, said he prefers letting the public decide.

"We’re basically charged by our own policy a job that should be a job of the electorate,” he said.

The board will vote on the best appointment method at a meeting later this month.

"We’ll exhaust everything, we just got to go through the process in some degree,” DeFeo said.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 8:21 PM with the headline "Horry County Schools debating process to fill Kay Loftus’ seat."