School District Government

School District Government

A common School Board has 3, 5, 7 and 9 school board members. (It may not exceed 11.)
The regular terms of school board members shall be three years, unless otherwise noted.
School board members elected shall take office on the 4th Monday in April.
No later than the 4th Tuesday in November prior to the spring election, the school clerk should publish a notice for the spring election.
No later than 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday in January, the school clerk shall verify the declarations of candidacy and certify the names of the candidates who have filed nomination papers and who qualify for the office.
The school board should require a primary election if there are more than two candidates for any seat on a 3-member board or more than twice as many candidates as there are members to be elected to an unnumbered school board of more than 3 members. When there is a primary election it should be held in conjunction with the spring primary.
The clerk will supervise the drawing of the order of the candidates on the ballot.
Publication notice must be in newspaper on the preceding Monday or earliest day that the newspaper can publish it.
The notice must contain:
1. date of election
2. names of all candidates and order of names on ballot
3. locaion and hours of polling place
4. a fascimile ballot and relevant portions of voting
If using paper ballots, that must be done 22 days before election
Absentee ballots apply to these elections.
An election for an unexpired term will be held in accordance with a regular school board election.
School district meetings - Every elector is allowed to vote at annual or special meetings
Consideration of special subject - Must be filed 60 days before the annual meeting
Annual meeting - happens each year in the fall - approve the tax levy
School board meetings - held at least once per month
School board duties - management of school district
A school board shall permit a child care provider before and after school under the stipulation that all rules and procedures are met
School board powers: The board has the right to promote the cause of education for the benefit of all of its students
The board makes rules for its organization, including graduation and discipline (expulsions)
Capital improvement fund: May create this fund with a two-thirds vote.
Audit of school district accounts: A licensed accountant should audit the district each year and certify it.
Board should include a president, treasurer and clerk with each person having specific duties.
Annual school district report: Need to file a verified report no later than Sept. 1 from the previous school year. Also need to conduct a school census.
School board may contract out for courses. May also acquire facilities within our outside school district.