The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

The San Mateo County Community College District is seeking public input on how to fill a vacancy on its board.

Board President Helen Hausman plans to step down April 30 due to health problems. Hausman joined the board in 1989. Her current term expires in November. There are generally two options for filling such a vacancy: appointing a person to fill the remainder of the term or holding a special election, which comes at an additional cost to the district. However, the election could be held in November, according to a staff report.

On Wednesday, the board will discuss the options. It’s hoping to gather public input.

If an appointment is chosen, the board would establish a process and timeline that will allow the appointment to be made by June 29. Interviews of candidates and selection of a candidate must take place at a meeting open to the public, according to a district press release. If an election is chosen, it could take place either on the next established election date which, in this case, would be Nov. 5, or on the last Tuesday in August via a mail ballot. A countywide election with a mail ballot is anticipated to cost more than $500,000.

Those who cannot attend can submit written opinions on the process can email christensen@smccd.edu.

The board meets 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 at the District Office, 3401 CSM Drive, San Mateo.