17.26 Vacancies in school boards; how filled. (1g) Except as provided in s. 9.10, vacancies in a school board shall be filled as follows: (a) Except as provided in sub. (1m), in a common, union high,
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or unified school district, by appointment by the remaining members. An appointee under this paragraph or sub. (1m) shall hold office until a successor is elected and takes office under s. 120.06 (4) or 120.42 (2). When a vacancy occurs in the office of a board member who is in the last year of his or her term, or when a vacancy occurs after the spring election but on or before the last Tuesday in November in the office of a board member who is not in the last year of his or her term, the successor shall be elected at the next spring election. When a vacancy occurs after the last Tuesday in November and on or before the date of the next spring election in the office of a board member who is not in the last year of his or her term, the successor shall be elected at the 2nd following spring election. (b) In a 1st class city school district, by special election as provided under s. 119.08 (4). (c) In boards where the first annual meeting of the district has failed to elect school board members, by appointment by the state superintendent of public instruction. (1m) If the remaining members of a school board do not appoint an individual to fill a vacancy under sub. (1g) (a) within 60 days of the date on which the vacancy first exists, the remaining members of the school board may fill the vacancy in accordance with the school board’s policy under s. 120.12 (28). (3) Any person selected under sub. (1g) (a) or (1m), upon being notified of his or her selection, shall be deemed to have accepted the selection unless within 5 days after notification he or she files with the clerk or director a written refusal to serve. History: 1973 c. 144; 1975 c. 138 s. 37; 1975 c. 200; 1977 c. 384, 403, 427, 445; 1979 c. 32; 1979 c. 260 ss. 82, 93m; 1979 c. 301; 1981 c. 287, 340; 1985 a. 225; 1995 a. 16 s. 2; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 2015 a. 63.
17.27
Vacancies in other offices; how filled. (1) JOINT COUNTY INSTITUTIONS. Vacancies in the office of any member of the governing body of a joint county hospital or sanatorium or other joint county institution, or in the office of any other officer of a joint county institution, shall be filled by appointment by the appointing power and in the manner prescribed by law for making regular full term appointments thereto. A vacancy in the office of any such officer appointed by the county board, occurring while the board is not in session, shall be filled by appointment by the chairperson of the county board; the person appointed holds office until a successor is appointed for the residue of the unexpired term by the county board at its first regular meeting held next after the vacancy occurs and the successor qualifies. (1m) METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE COMMISSION. Vacancies in the office of any directly elected member of a metropolitan sewerage commission under s. 200.09 (11) (am) shall be filled by temporary appointment of the governor until a successor is elected and qualified. A successor shall be elected in the manner prescribed for filling vacancies in elective city offices under s. 17.23 (1) (am). (1n) DANE COUNTY LAKES AND WATERSHED COMMISSION. If a vacancy occurs in the office of any appointed commissioner of the Dane County lakes and watershed commission, the county executive of Dane County shall appoint a member who meets the applicable requirements under s. 33.44 (1) (c) to (g). (3) TECHNICAL COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD. Vacancies in the membership of any technical college district board shall be filled in the manner prescribed in ss. 38.08 (2) and 38.10. (3m) LONG-TERM CARE DISTRICT BOARD. If a vacancy occurs in the position of any appointed member of a long-term care district board, the appointing authority shall appoint to serve for the residue of the unexpired term a person who meets the applicable requirements under s. 46.2895 (3) (b). (4) ANY OTHER VACANCY. In case of a vacancy in any office
May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)
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Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats.
RESIGNATIONS, VACANCIES, REMOVALS
in the state where no other provision is made for filling the same, it shall be filled by appointment by the governor. History: 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 221; 1983 a. 192; 1989 a. 324; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 399; Sup. Ct. Order No. 96-08, 207 Wis. 2d xv (1997); 1999 a. 9; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 20; 2019 a. 164; 2021 a. 240 s. 29.