Stevens Point, Wis. — The Stevens Point Area Public School District board appointed Liz Potter Nelson to a vacant school board seat on Monday after interviewing nine applicants. The board announced the appointment after a secret-ballot process; Nelson received the five votes needed for a majority of the board.

Board members held candidate interviews earlier in the meeting and advanced the top two vote-getters, Nelson and Miguel Gabriel Campos, to a final vote. “We have an individual with 5 votes. Congratulations to Liz Potter Nelson,” a board member said after the tally was reached.

The appointment fills the seat left open by Will Shader’s resignation and will remain in place until the April election. Board members explained that at the April election four seats are on the ballot: the three top vote-getters would receive full three-year terms, and the successful candidate who receives the lowest number of votes among those elected would complete Shader’s remaining term through April 2027. The appointee’s first regular board meeting will be Oct. 13; staff said Nelson will be contacted to schedule orientation before that date.

Board members used a randomized order to interview candidates and allotted 90 seconds for opening and closing statements and one minute per question. After the interview round, members submitted initialed ballots from their folders; a majority of the full board (five votes) was required to confirm the appointment. When no candidate receives a majority on the first ballot, the top two move on to another round of voting.

In addition to the board seat, members moved and approved a motion to appoint Nelson to the board’s Business Services & Human Resources committee, filling Shader’s seat on that committee. Board members noted Nelson had been serving as a citizen member on the district’s Educational Services committee; the board said it will fill that citizen vacancy separately.

The appointment process was conducted during a publicly noticed special board meeting that was held in person and streamed live. Board members present were recorded on the roll call earlier in the meeting. Staff assisting the process included Nicole, who operated the randomized order tool and the meeting timer, and Meg, who managed ballots and vote collection.

The board did not publish individual vote names in the meeting transcript; members announced vote counts and the final tally publicly. No additional policy changes were adopted during the meeting, and the board adjourned after completing the appointments.