Board elections shall be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years.
A person is legally qualified to become a board member who is a United States citizen and a qualified voter resident in the school district and appropriate director district, if any.
A person may become a candidate for a place on the board by filing a declaration of candidacy with the county auditor during the May filing period, as prescribed by law. If the school district includes territory in two or more counties, the declaration of candidacy shall be filed with the county auditor of the county designated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction as the county to which the district belongs, pursuant to RCW 28A.323.040.
In the event that there are more than two candidates for any position on the board, a primary election shall be held on the first Tuesday of August in the manner prescribed by law. The two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will appear on the election ballot in November.
If, prior to the first day of the regular filing period, a vacancy occurs in a school director position that is not scheduled to appear on the general election ballot, leaving an unexpired term for which a successor must be elected at the next general election, filings for that position will be accepted during the regular filing period. The filing officer will provide notice of the vacancy and filing period to newspapers, radio, and television in the county, and online. The position will appear on the primary and general election ballots unless no primary is required.
If, on the first day of the regular filing period or later, a vacancy occurs in a school director position that is not scheduled to appear on the general election ballot leaving an unexpired term, the election of the successor will occur at the next succeeding general election that the office is allowed by law to have an election.
If following the regular filing period and deadline to withdraw, but prior to the day for the primary, a void in candidacy occurs, the filing officer will reopen the filing period of three normal business days. The filing officer will provide notice of the special filing period to newspapers, radio, and television in the county, and online. The candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast for that school director in the general election is deemed elected.
Procedure
Candidates for appointment or election to the board are urged to attend public meetings of the board. All public information about the school system will be made available to them.
Additionally, the board directs the superintendent to cooperate impartially with all candidates in providing them with information about school governance, board operations and school programs. Information to board candidates may include:
- Notifying the candidate of open meetings of the board, and providing an agenda;
- Meeting with the candidate to provide background information on the school system and board service and/or arranging such other candidate orientation sessions as the candidate may reasonably request;
- Providing each candidate with access to publications of the district, materials from the Washington State School Directors’ Association, the official minutes of board meetings and the district policy manual;
- Reviewing the district budget and related fiscal documents; and
- Providing each candidate with information regarding the Public Disclosure Act, Open Public Meetings Act and conflict of interest laws.
Cross Reference:
Board Policy
1115 Vacancies
1610 Conflicts of Interest
Legal References:
RCW 28A.323.040 Joint school districts — Designation of county to which joint school district belongs
RCW 28A.343.300 Directors — Terms — Numbers
RCW 28A.343.320 Directors — Declarations of candidacy — Positions as separate offices
RCW 28A.343.330 Directors — Ballots — Form
RCW 28A.343.340 Directors — When elected — Eligibility
RCW 29A.04.151 Residence
RCW 29A.24.141 Void in candidacy—exception
RCW 29A.24.151 Notice of void in candidacy
RCW 29A.24.181 Reopening of filing —before eleventh Tuesday before general election
RCW 29A.24.191 Scheduled election lapses, when
RCW 29A.52.210 Local primaries
RCW 42.12.010 Causes of vacancy
Management Resources: Policy News, August 2011 Legislature clarifies law on vacancies and voids in candidacy, primary election date changes
Policy News, October 2006 Changes in Election Law
Adoption Date: 8.11
Methow Valley School District
Classification: Discretionary WSSDA 8.11