The Jefferson County Board of Education has selected Martha Bouyer to fill a vacant seat on the board.

Bouyer, a consultant and retired JefCoEd teacher from Lipscomb, was selected unanimously from among three finalists at the board’s regular January meeting on Thursday night.

Bouyer will replace Corner resident Ronald Rhodes, who resigned in November because of family matters. The term expires in 2018.

Though Bouyer’s selection was by a 4-0 vote, members admitted it was far from a runaway selection. Indeed, there was a bit of an awkward moment when board president Jennifer Parsons opened the floor for a nomination.

The other members were silent for about 10 seconds, before vice president Jacqueline Smith put Bouyer’s name up for a vote.

Bouyer was picked ahead of Dean Taylor from Morris, who runs Webb Payroll Services in Gardendale, and Ann Underwood of Pleasant Grove, who’s been active in parent-teacher organizations at her school and system-wide.

The choice between the finalists was so difficult, board member Tommy Little had thought about the electoral equivalent of punting the ball.

“I could see any one of the three making an excellent board member,” Little said. “At one point I was even thinking if we should let Dr. [Tommy] Bice assist us. I was that conflicted back and forth.”

Had the board been unable to make a selection, Bice — the Alabama Superintendent of Education — would have been required by state law to make the choice himself.

Board member Oscar Mann was especially impressed with Bouyer’s work since she retired from the JefCoEd system, mostly at Hewitt-Trussville (before Trussville broke away to form its own system).

“Her lifestyle and her activity since retirement has not been one of staying at home,” Mann said. “She’s currently working on her doctorate, she’s been involved in education in other areas — she’s just a vibrant go-getter that has experience.”

Taylor was the only one of the finalists who was present at the meeting. After the vote, Parsons publicly thanked him and encouraged him to stay active in school affairs. “We want to continue hearing from you — you’ve been very active with us even before this [vote], and we encourage you to stay that way,” she said.

Taylor left the meeting before commenting.

No date has been set for swearing Bouyer into her new position, though it must be done before Jan. 31, thanks to an extension Bice gave the board over the normal 30-day time span starting with the resignation of the previous member.