SARANAC LAKE — There are eight days left for people interested in joining the Saranac Lake Central School District Board of Education to apply to fill a vacancy left after board member Jeremy Evans resigned last week to pursue a run for Saranac Lake mayor.

The board is soliciting people to apply to fill out the term, which ends in May.

“I have heard some interest but no one submitted the Letter of Intent as of yet,” District Clerk Fred Finn wrote in an email on Tuesday.

SLCSD Board President Aurora White said this appointment would be a good chance for someone to test out if they like the position.

“It’s really an opportunity for somebody who maybe has considered being on the board, but they weren’t quite sure and they want to give it a try,” White said.

“This is a great ‘try it before you buy it’ opportunity,” SLCSD Superintendent Diane Fox said.

The term only lasts until the next board of education election on May 17. When that election is held, they can run for a full three-year term if they want to.

“I think that it’s important to volunteer, especially when your children are in the district,” White said. “If you want to have input and insight into the workings of the district, that’s the best opportunity that you have.”

The school board has had several resignations and appointments — or new board members joining through elections — in the past few years.

“We’ve had comparatively heavy turnover for years,” Fox said.

There are pros and cons to this, White said. Consistency helps on a board. With several new members on the board, they are learning and growing together. But variety helps, too.

“Everybody who joins us brings a different perspective,” Fox said.

White said Evans’ knowledge of code enforcement, development and community issues came in handy, especially during capital projects. But she added that the position is open to anyone who wants to apply.

“Jeremy is irreplaceable,” Fox said. “As with all the people who came before, they take their expertise with them.”

Fox said people’s background, politics or pet projects are not important, just that they should have a student-centered vision. Sometimes board members disagree on what is best for students, but with that as a starting point, they have common ground.

Evans was on the school board for six and a half years.

“Very difficult to do,” he said of resigning. “It was an incredibly rewarding experience. Can’t say enough about it.”

He said he needed more time to focus on his campaign and, if he wins, being the village’s mayor.

To apply, Finn says people should submit a letter of interest with relevant background information and reasons for wishing to serve on the school board by 3 p.m. Jan. 28. Finn is collecting these applications by mail at 79 Canaras Ave., Saranac Lake, NY, 12983 or by email at finnfre@slcs.org.