Superintendent Lawrence Barnes said Tuesday that Thornton was the school board president when he died, and his post was up for election in February. Barnes said the board has a certain number of days to fill the seat or call for a special election. Barnes said he expects that the board will appoint someone to take Thornton's place and then have the regular election for the seat in February.
Barnes said Thornton was on the board for about 10 years.
Funeral services for Thornton, 65, were held Sept. 6 at the Vian High School auditorium with Rev. Len McCarty officiating.
Burial was in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Vian, under the direction of Agent Funeral Home of Sallisaw.
Mr. Thornton was a retired Vian police chief, a former Vian city councilman, and he also served as Sequoyah County sheriff for four years. At the time of his death, Thornton was also serving on the Vian Community Charitable Trust board. He was a member of the Vian United Methodist Church.
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Barnes said the board hired three teacher assistants for the 2005-6 school year, including Kendra Pack, Beth Mosley, and Melissa Brown, and one cook, Sophia Remer. The board also hired Evelyn Rouse as a part-time adult education teacher.
The board accepted the resignation of Melissa Johnson, teacher assistant, who Barnes said got a job as a teacher at Muldrow.
The board approved the estimate of needs for the 2005-6 school year, Barnes said the estimated budget for the general fund is $7,402,792.54.
Barnes said the board approved the school's career technology programs, the gifted and talented committee members, and the purchase of a 2006 Ford 500 from Sallisaw Ford for $21,171.55. Barnes said the car will be used for administrative use, at the discretion of Barnes.
