BUTLER TWP — With Butler School Board members unable to agree Tuesday night on a ninth board member, the choice will probably fall to Tom Doerr, Butler County president judge.

The new member will complete a term which ends in December 2013, a seat vacated by Joe Wiest after he was elected to the Butler Township commissioners.

The school board’s eight members split into two voting blocs, with half supporting Helene Abramowitz and half supporting Ben Holland.

Neither of the other two candidates who applied for the seat, Arthur Haag and Ann LeMay, were nominated at the meeting. Haag threw his support to Abramowitz.

The board took two votes. Voting for Abramowitz were Carmen Bianco, John Conrad, Linda Patten and Paula Opalka. Voting for Holland were Karen Callihan, Bill Halle, Jim Keffalas and Don Pringle.

Pringle, board president, said the board had reached an impasse.

If the board can’t pick a new member by Jan. 25, a petition signed by 10 district residents can be delivered to Doerr to pick the new board member.

The petition may include a candidate’s name, but it doesn’t have to, said Tom King, district solicitor. Doerr may select anyone he chooses, King said.