The board made two unanimous votes to move forward with filling the empty seat. First, they approved a revised application form that makes the position more accessible to candidates with diverse professional backgrounds. Instead of requiring a traditional resume, the application now asks candidates to "list professional qualifications and background or include a resume," according to a suggestion from Dr. Massie. The board also directed all applicant questions to a general school board email address rather than to an individual board member, promoting transparency and shared responsibility.

The application incorporates state privacy requirements from Minnesota Statute 13.601 to inform applicants about what information becomes public. The board also clarified that candidates must meet age requirements and have no employment relationship with the district exceeding $20,000 annually, in accordance with state law.

Second, the board unanimously approved a comprehensive timeline and selection process for the vacancy. Applications are due November 20, with public notices appearing on the district website, through email notifications, and in the Forest Lake Times on November 5 and 12. The selection process includes subcommittees that will identify finalist candidates, plus a "voter's candidate" — someone who ran in the recent election and finished near the top. All candidates will go through the same application and interview process.

The board made one key adjustment to the timeline: they removed a requirement that interviews happen at the first meeting of each month, allowing greater scheduling flexibility. Member Tyson noted that state law gives local school boards significant discretion in designing their vacancy process. "We're kind of navigating our way, and I think so far it sounds like a great path," he said. After selection, the new board member will have a 30-day waiting period before appointment and must complete orientation before taking office.