POULSBO — The four remaining North Kitsap School Board directors were split over whether Cindy Webster-Martinson or Scott Henden should be the board president.

So on Oct. 23, they elected Bill Webb at the board meeting at Wolfle Elementary School.

“I assume we’re going to have the deadlock we had last meeting, so I’m going to [nominate] Bill,” Webster-Martinson said. Henden seconded the motion. When it came time to vote, it was an unanimous yes for Webb.

Webb will serve as president until the board’s regular election in December. Webb was elected to the board in 2011. His term expires in 2015.

Henden remains vice president.

The president presides at all meetings and signs all papers and documents required by law or authorized by action of the board. The president conducts and manages the meetings and is the official recipient of correspondence, and consults with the superintendent on issues such as board meetings, study sessions and retreat planning. The president speaks to the public and media on behalf of the board.

The unanimous vote for Webb followed a divide on Oct. 9, after then-president Dan Weedin resigned from the board. Webb nominated Henden and Beth Worthington nominated Webster-Martinson for the board’s presidency. Each received a 2-2 vote.

According to Assistant Superintendent Chris Willits, the board was required to take a vote on the presidency immediately. If there was a tie, the board would need to take a second roll-call vote.

Weedin became president after Kathleen Dassel resigned. At the time, Weedin was board vice president.

Willits said the process the board took when Weedin became president may not have been correct. District administration sought legal advice as to what the proper procedure should be, Willits said during the meeting. Henden questioned the reasoning, citing Robert’s Rules of Order, which would lead to him becoming president. He suggested the board make policy more clear in the case of future vacancies.

Worthington said though the president has more responsibility, the board is not ruled by the president. All board members can speak their mind, she said.

Meanwhile, the school district is accepting applications from residents interested in completing Weedin’s board term. The deadline is Nov. 3. Information and application are available on the district’s website.