Vacant seat in Papillion-La Vista school board sparks search for new member

Papillion, Nebraska – The sudden resignation of Brittany Holtmeyer from the Papillion-La Vista School Board has initiated the process for selecting a new board member. Holtmeyer, who was only elected last November and had been in office since January, made the decision to step down, leaving a significant void in the board.

A Difficult Departure

Holtmeyer’s tenure on the board was marked by her outspoken views, particularly her stance on banning books in PLCS libraries. This perspective, along with other opinions, stirred controversy and frequent debates, especially on social media platforms. In her resignation email, Holtmeyer cited harassment as the principal reason behind her decision, detailing verbal attacks, instances of misinformation on social media, car vandalism during board meetings, and even dealing with a stalker.

PLCS Superintendent Dr. Andrew Rikli, while acknowledging the challenges of the role, thanked Holtmeyer for her commitment over the past nine months. “These jobs are not easy,” he remarked, “they require an extensive amount of preparation, time spent at meetings, school activities, and more.”

With the unanimous approval of Holtmeyer’s resignation, the board now faces the challenge of finding her replacement.

The Search Begins

Annette Eyman, PLCS Communications Director, recalled the last mid-term board member replacement in 2017. She highlighted the significant interest in the position, noting that “we had about 38 completed applications and another six or seven that had started the process but not completed it.”

Emphasizing the importance of the board members, Eyman mentioned, “They set the vision and the direction for the entire school district. They are responsible for hiring and firing the superintendent and setting his performance goals.”

For those interested in the position, applications will open on October 10, with a deadline of November 3 at 4:30 p.m. Eligible candidates must be residents of Papillion, registered voters, at least 18 years old, and cannot be current PLCS employees.

The board has outlined a specific timeline for the selection process:

• November 9: A special meeting to shortlist the candidates to five.
• November 13: Each of the five candidates will be interviewed, provided with a five-minute slot to present information, followed by a question-answer session.
• November 13 (continued): A public vote will be conducted post-interviews.
• November 27: The chosen candidate will be officially sworn in.

To secure the position, a candidate must receive backing from a minimum of three out of the five current board members.