Filling Vacant Officer Positions

What happens if you have a vacant officer position?
If your nominating committee has had no luck finding a candidate to fill a position, if you have started the year with an empty officer position, or if one of your officers resigns from their position mid-year, here is the WSPTA recommended procedure that you should follow. NOTE: You do not have to create a nominating committee to find someone for this empty position! A nominating committee is only formed to find qualified nominees for the election that happens in the Spring for your next school year.

Your executive committee can appoint a person to fill the vacant office. 
The appointed officer acts in an "interim" capacity until you can find a person that wants to step into the position in an official capacity and you can elect them OR until the appointed interim officer can be officially elected into their position at the next membership meeting. An interim officer at a local PTA/PTSA has no limitations on what they can/cannot do. An interim officer assumes all the rights and duties of that position.

From the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws:
If a vacancy occurs in a local PTA or council office, the executive committee may appoint a member to fill the vacancy until the next membership meeting. At the next membership meeting, nominations shall be made from the floor with the consent of the nominee. The election shall be by ballot vote. A majority vote is necessary to elect. The election may be by voice vote if only one candidate is nominated for an office. The newly elected officer shall immediately assume the duties of the office.

To learn more about nominating committee, elections, and officer resignations or removals see:

• Nominating Committee: Overview & FAQ
• Nominating Committee & Elections Handbook
• WSPTA Bylaws
• WSPTA Policy Manual

If you are still have questions or are in need of guidance, please reach out to Council - we are here to help!

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