Jim Thorpe School District officials are seeking to fill a vacancy on the district's board of directors.

The appointed school board member would serve two years before coming up for re-election in 2017.Letters of intent for the position should be submitted to the district offices, care of board secretary Lauren Kovac. The deadline is Dec. 9.The vacant seat opened up after board member Robert Schaninger resigned at a meeting late last month.Schaninger was appointed to his seat in April 2014, and had recently won a four-year term before announcing his resignation.The appointed member will only serve two years before having to run for re-election, in accordance with state law.Contacted Tuesday, Schaninger said that personal reasons prevent him from continuing on the board, but he would welcome the opportunity to return in the future."It's just personal - I cannot give the justifiable time that should be given to the people in the school district," he said.He said that he would not rule out a return to the board in the future, but simply taking off a few months wasn't an option right now.Schaninger also served another stint on the board between 2012 and 2013.He said that he approached his time as a school director with no personal agenda."My (agenda) was always to do the right thing, and try to save people money," he said.He was also known for a dry wit, often taking friendly shots at his fellow directors."I took it serious, but at the end of the day, it's not life or death. You just have to enjoy what you're doing," he said.