The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously last week to move forward with a provisional appointment process to fill the seat vacated by board member Vladimir Ivanovic, setting March 19 as the date when an appointee will be selected.
Ivanovic’s recent announcement that he will resign effective March 11 creates a short-term vacancy on the five-member board. Under California law, the board may either call a special election or appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term, which expires at the end of this year. Trustees agreed that a provisional appointment was the most practical path forward, avoiding the cost of a special election in late August ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
During public comment, multiple speakers urged the board to “avoid a costly election that we just can’t afford,” calling a standalone election a “waste of money” at a time when district resources are under strain and arguing that funds would be better directed toward classrooms and campus needs. Speakers also emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity on the board during an already contentious period.
Ivanovic’s role as a frequent questioner and challenger was also highlighted, with one speaker adding, “Having a dissenting varied opinion is always valuable, even if it’s not in agreement with the rest of the board.” Multiple speakers explicitly encouraged Ivanovic to apply for the appointed position, saying it would preserve institutional knowledge while avoiding additional costs.
Trustees clarified that an appointment would not be expected to alter existing board votes or positions, particularly on divisive issues. Board members said any appointee would be joining a board with established majority decisions already in place.
“I don’t particularly want to cause the district to spend money on a special election,” Ivanovic said. “But I think that, you look at how much a bad decision on the 10th site will cost the district … I’m not very sympathetic to any pleas of ‘let’s save money for the children’ in this particular instance.”
Ivanovic outlined specific conditions under which he might consider an appointment, including a clear commitment from the board to prioritize modernization of existing district campuses.
The vacancy stems from Ivanovic’s disagreement with the board’s decision to allocate the district’s planned 10th site campus in Mountain View to Bullis Charter School. That vote, approved by a 4–1 majority in October, has fueled community debate and ultimately prompted Ivanovic’s departure.
The district is expected to release details about the application process for the provisional appointment in the coming weeks. Trustees will select an appointee at their March 19 meeting, with the chosen candidate serving through the end of the current term.
