a) Candidates for the office of member of the Board must be nominated by a petition directed to the District Clerk which is signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, or by 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election, whichever is greater. Petitions must state the residence of each signer and the name and residence of each candidate.
b) The notice of the Annual District Meeting must state that petitions nominating candidates for the Board must be filed with the Clerk of the District, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., no later than 30 days before the Annual or Special District Meeting at which the school board election will occur.
c) If a candidate for whom a petition has been filed withdraws within fifteen (15) days prior to the deadline for filing petitions, the time for filing petitions shall be extended for fifteen (15) days from the date of withdrawal but no further than the seventh (7th) day before the election.
d) Voting will be by machine or paper ballot, and provision will be made for the election by “write-in-vote” of any candidate not previously nominated. The position of candidates on ballots will be determined by lot at a drawing conducted by the District Clerk on the day after the last filing. Candidates or their proxies may be present for the drawing.
e) The hours of voting will be as indicated by Board resolution.
f) The candidates receiving the largest number of votes will be declared elected in accordance with Education Law.
g) At least ten days prior to the election, the Board will appoint at least two inspectors of election for each voting machine or ballot box, and set their salary.
h) The District Clerk will oversee the election. The Clerk will also give notice immediately to each person declared elected to the Board, informing him or her of the election and his or her term of office.
i) Only qualified voters, as determined by Education Law Section 2012, may vote at any District meeting or election.
j) No electioneering will be allowed within 100 feet of the polling place.
k) When a term of office expires at the end of a school year and the office has become vacant at the time of election, the person elected to fill the new full-term vacancy also fills the remaining days of the previous term, beginning his or her term of office immediately upon election and the taking and filing of the oath of office.
Ex Officio Student Board Members
Ex officio student Board members will be entitled to sit with Board members at all public meetings and hearings of the Board and may participate in other Board activities and responsibilities at the discretion of the Board. However, ex officio student Board members will:
a) Not be allowed to vote;
b) Not be allowed to attend executive sessions or any other meetings or hearings not open to the public; and
c) Not be entitled to receive compensation of any form for participating at Board meetings.
Selection and Service of Ex Officio Student Board Members
To be designated as an ex officio student Board member the student must have attended the district high school for at least one year prior to selection, and remain an enrolled student within the district through their tenure.
The Board will have at least one ex officio student Board member. The ex officio student member(s) of the Board are chosen through an application and interview process by the Board of Education and superintendent during their sophomore year. Selection is then by a majority vote of the Board.
Ex officio student Board members will serve on the Board for a term of two years, commencing July 1 in the year of appointment and ending June 30 of their senior year.
Education Law Sections 1702, 1703, 1804, 1901, 1950, 2004, 2012, 2018, 2025, 2029, 2031-a, 2031, 2032, 2034, 2105(14), 2121, 2502, 2602, 2608(1), and 2610
Adopted: February 27, 2018; Revised: April 8, 2025