School board member Lora Harlan resigns

Harlan

Longtime Clovis Municipal Schools board member Lora Harlan resigned Wednesday after 19 years on the board.

Harlan, a former president, said in a letter to the board her resignation is effective May 28.

Harlan, the representative for District Three, said she feels the process of choosing a superintendent provides the appropriate time for her resignation.

“As I contemplated this decision, I knew that in fairness to the process of choosing a new superintendent and the transition that brings, this was the appropriate time," Harlan wrote in her letter. "The candidates, the staff, and the community need to know the board members that will make up the new leadership team."

Harlan said her term ends in February but she hadn’t considered if she would run for re-election or not.

“I feel like I’ve done what I wanted to do. I was an advocate for children and made it the best situation it could be for the staff and responded to the community. That’s been my goal and to the best of my ability, I’ve fulfilled that,” she said.

President Mark Lansford said there are three options for filling Harlan’s seat. He said the board can fill a vacancy in its membership by appointment or by calling a special election with in 45 days. If the board does neither, the state’s secretary of public education will appoint someone to fill the seat until the next election.

“I was taken by surprise with this announcement,” Lansford said. “It was not expected. I would like to thank Mrs. Harlan for her many years of service to our school district.”

Lansford said the board will probably address the issue of replacing Harlan in the near future.