The Dunkirk Board of Education will have a vacant seat until the May budget vote and election.

“The best thing is to wait until the election, until May, so we don’t favor anyone or anything,” board President Kenneth Kozlowski said at Tuesday’s workshop.

The board originally planned to interview applicants for the vacancy, then appoint its preferred candidate. The opening came up when David Damico resigned Jan. 1 to take his seat as councilman-at-large on the Dunkirk Common Council.

“We had an overwhelming response to Damico’s open seat,” with eight people interested, Kozlowski said.

“We appreciate everyone who replied … It would have been a difficult decision to make,” he added.

Superintendent Mike Mansfield noted that the vacancy will be one of three seats on the seven-member board to come up for election in May.

Doing an election and not an appointment ensures “it will be a level playing field for all to participate,” he said.