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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City School District Board of Education announced a process to fill the vacancy left after one of its members resigned after he was charged with sexually abusing a child and possessing child pornography.
The board is accepting applications until June 21 at 5 p.m., after which it will begin applicant interviews, according to a news release.
To be considered, one must have lived within Precinct 1 boundaries in the school district for at least one year. They must also certify that they are eligible to hold elected office and that they have never been convicted of a felony, unless their right to hold office is restored in accordance with Utah state law, and that they have never been convicted of a grievous sexual offense against a child.
Applicants will undergo background checks. If the person chosen for the position fails their background check, they will be removed from the board "immediately," according to the school district.
The new board member will serve from the time of their swearing-in until Dec. 31, 2022. An election will then be held in November 2022 to fill the seat through the end of 2024, the statement says.
The vacancy arose after board member Joel-Lehi Organista, 29, of Salt Lake City, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with object rape of a child and sexual exploitation of a minor, both first-degree felonies. He was also charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and prosecutors say they anticipate additional charges being filed.
Organista was elected to the Salt Lake City School Board in November. On Thursday, hours after his arrest, board members called for his immediate resignation. Organista offered his letter of resignation to board leadership Friday afternoon from jail.
More information on how to apply for the vacancy is available at slcschools.org/news/.
