Denver Public Schools board president, Anne Rowe, admitted Monday night the vetting process was not complete before they selected MiDian Holmes to fill the vacant district 4 seat.
"After the vote, it became very clear that the vetting of these candidates was not complete," she said during the special meeting.
Holmes was supposed to be sworn in Monday night as the new Board Director for Northeast Denver. She was supposed to complete a four-year term vacated by board member, Landri Taylor, set to expire in 2017. On Thursday of last week, Holmes announced she was stepping down after her criminal past came to light.
Under state law, the board had 60 days to fill the seat originally vacated when Landri Taylor resigned. Monday was the deadline and it's now up to board president, Anne Rowe to select someone. Rowe said she will take time to "reflect" then begin reviewing some of the other four finalists who received votes on Tuesday.
"I feel like our school board failed our community. There were 22 excellent, well-qualified candidates, they didn't do their due diligence," said Jose Silva, who attended Monday's meeting.
Holmes initially beat out more than 20 other candidates for the position, but court records show she was charged with misdemeanor child abuse in 2006. She initially said the charge stemmed from an incident when her toddler snuck out of the house and was found wandering by a neighbor.
Records later revealed the charge was the result of her leaving her three children, ages 7, 6 and 2 home alone for more than eight hours while she was at work.
She was also charged with wrongs to minors in 2005, but that case was also dismissed.
The board originally said in a statement that Holmes was transparent about her past.
Rowe said she will call a special meeting once she makes her pick.
"I think at this point, the community has the right to be involved in the process since this one has gone awry. Although it may be a little costly, I think the only way to do that is through a special election," said concerned community member, Earleen Brown.