GOWANDA — The Board of Education became a little more filled out following its recent election, though some uncertainty amongst members still remains.

At their meeting last week, members Dollene Christopher and Max Graham were both sworn in as members of the Gowanda school board. Graham has served on the board for the last several months, but is now officially sworn in to his term, while Christopher is a newcomer to the board. However, a tie in the election still remains.

Gowanda Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson said that two of the people running, Jill Smith and Shauna McMahon, sat deadlocked at 196 votes apiece, prompting discussion on what the board should do next. According to protocol, Dr. Anderson said that another election needs to be held.

“In the event of a tie, the board is to hold a special election within 45 days as a runoff,” Dr. Anderson said. “That’s the only option right now for our third board seat, according to our school attorney.”

But the election gets a tad more complicated than even that. The two candidates who will participate in the run-off are competing for one seat, but the Gowanda School Board has an additional seat open, as Lynn Guzzetta resigned following the previous Gowanda School Board meeting.

“Traditionally, the lowest vote getter would be asked to fill that seat,” Dr. Anderson said. “It’s up to the board on how we want to pursue that.”

The special election has to be held regardless, due to legal obligation and the seat up for election has to be resolved first, as Guzzetta’s seat wasn’t up for initial election. However, the Board can choose to appoint whichever candidate doesn’t win the election to the new seat.

“Technically we could appoint the other person,” said Gowanda school board President Dana Szalay. “But because the candidates are on this ballot, and only three spots were open to fill, we have to hold the additional vote, fill that first, and then decide what we’re going to do.”

Options for the board to appoint a member to the position vacated by Guzzetta go beyond the other candidate, but the special election must only be between the two existing candidates. The date for the special election is yet to be determined.

In addition to swearing in new members, Mark Nephew was elected to the role of vice president of the Board.