Candidate Kits Available for Potential School Board Members

For those interested in running for a position on a local school board in November, the following comes  from the New Jersey School Boards Association:

The New Jersey School Boards Association today published an online Candidate Kit with information for citizens interested in running for a position on their local board of education in November 2012.

In approximately 80 percent of New Jersey's local school districts, voters will select school board members on Tuesday, Nov. 6, the date of the General Election. To have their names placed on the November election ballot, candidates for school board office must submit a nominating petition to the county clerk by 4 p.m. on June 5.  Approximately 1,200 board of education positions, which are non-partisan, will appear on General Election ballots across the state.

Qualifications for Office “I encourage legally qualified citizens with a sincere interest in the well-being of the community and its children to consider board of education membership,” commented Raymond R. Wiss, NJSBA president.  “Local boards of education make critical decisions on the policies that govern the operations of the public schools.  It is one of the most meaningful contributions that a citizen can make to his or her community.”

Prospective school board candidates can obtain a “School Board Candidate Kit” online atwww.njsba.org/candidacy.  It includes directions on obtaining and filing a nominating petition, as well as information about legal qualifications for school board candidacy and the role of the school board member. Background about the New Jersey School Ethics Act and important dates in the school election process are also included in the kit.

Nominating Petitions For the November elections, the format and distribution of school board nominating petitions varies among the state’s 21 counties.  The NJSBA Candidate Kit includes a county-by-county listing of nominating petition information and access to downloadable petition forms where available.

Recent legislation allowed communities to move their school elections from the third Tuesday in April to the General Election in November. Doing so places the district’s school board candidates on the November ballot – but eliminates the need to present the proposed school budget to voters as long as it remains at or below the state’s 2-percent levy cap. Throughout the state, 468 school districts will have board member elections in November 2012, while 73 school districts retained April school elections.