FARMINGTON — A candidate for an open position on the RSU 9 Board of Directors has withdrawn so the school board can decide how it wants to fill the position, Superintendent Tom Ward said Friday.

Former Director Eric Gilbert of Farmington moved to Jay.

Keith Welch of Farmington, who was interested in serving until the March 2014 election, has withdrawn for the time being, he said.

The board will discuss the process at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the Forum at the Mt. Blue Campus.

“We have had questions about whether or not we should have a process for selecting/appointing an individual to be an interim,” Ward said. “I want the board to have a discussion on how (they) think we should proceed.”

This is new territory because by law towns are supposed to appoint someone unless a town’s charter says otherwise, which is the case for Farmington, he said.

The statute Farmington follows states the vacancy can be filled in one of two ways: the school directors may appoint someone within 30 days or, if they do not do so, by election at a town meeting called for that purpose.

The board has several options on how to fill the position until the next election, Ward said.

Directors can opt to advertise the opening and interview candidates; ask a former board member to finish out the year until town elections; or appoint someone who has expressed interest to finish the year.

dperry@sunjournal.com