Becoming a Candidate for School Board Election
Serving on a school board is a challenging job that requires leadership, vision and dedication. A school board member is entrusted with one of the most important responsibilities that can be assigned to a citizen: ensuring that Iowa schools help all students reach high levels of educational achievement. Click here to see a short video presentation about the impact Iowa school board members make. Click here to download it.
The Iowa Association of School Boards is here to help school board candidates with basic information about running for the school board. After the election, we're here to help them become the most effective board members they can be.
Beginning this year (September 2009) school board members will serve four-year terms, with elections held during odd-numbered years. Previously, Iowa school board members were elected for three-year terms by the citizens of each school district. School board elections are held in each Iowa school district on the second Tuesday in September. (Sept. 8, 2009)
Eligibility: Any person who is a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, a resident of the school district and eligible to be registered to vote may become a candidate for the school board.
Nominations: Nomination petitions for the office of school board member must be filed with the school board secretary not more than 64 nor less than 40 days prior to the regular election. (In 2009, the first day to file papers is July 6. The last day to file papers is July 30.) The process for filing nomination petitions is as follows:
Request the original nomination petition from the school board secretary.
Obtain the nomination signatures of 1 percent of the eligible electors of the district or 50 eligible electors of the district, whichever is less, but at least 10 signatures. (If board members are elected by director district, rather than at-large, signers of the nomination petitions must reside in the same district as the candidate.) A person may sign nomination petitions for more than one candidate for the same office.
Attach a notarized affidavit acknowledging the candidate’s eligibility.
File the petition with the school board secretary prior to 5 p.m. on the 40th day (July 30, 2009) preceding the election.
Each candidate is assured a place on the ballot by successfully filing the completed nomination petition. A candidate’s name may be withdrawn from the ballot after the completed petition is filed by submitting a written statement to that effect with the school board secretary more than 35 days before the election. (Aug. 4, 2009)
An individual may, however, be elected as a write-in candidate. Space must be provided on the ballot for write-in candidates. The write-in candidate is not required to file a nomination petition.
Click here for the "School Board Candidates' Checklist." Helpful Resources
Election procedures: The Iowa Secretary of State's Office also has information available by the Web, including nomination papers and a candidate guide. A guide for school board secretaries is also available there.
Campaign laws: School board candidates must comply with the Iowa Campaign Finance Disclosure laws, Iowa Code Chap. 68A. Candidates should be aware that these laws can result in fines and other penalties. The laws also apply to write-in candidates. The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board Web site has downloadable materials on complying with campaign finance laws and other requirements.
Questions? Contact Megan Hawkins, communications director, at 1-800-795-4272.