UPDATE March 22, 2014 / PN’s Election 2015 “Meet & Greet” page, the Daily Herald, NCTV17 and the City of Naperville archives provide coverage and links to other info about the competitive race in Indian Prairie Unit School District 204 among three incumbents and one challenger.
Three incumbents in Naperville Community Unit School District 203 are running unopposed.
Both school districts will fill three 4-year seats on their boards of education on April 7, 2015.
UPDATE Dec. 22, 2014 / Today was the final day for filing to run to serve on local school boards. Unlike other years, little or no interest surfaced to challenge the incumbents who serve on the two school boards that serve the Naperville community.
In Naperville Community Unit School District 203, the three incumbents—Terry Fielden, Mike Jaensch and Suzyn Price—will run unopposed for the three four-year terms up for election.
In Indian Prairie Unit School District 204, the three incumbents—Lori Price, Mark Rising and Justin Karubas— will be joined by challenger Renata Sliva to vie for the three four-year terms.
UPDATE Dec. 15, 2014 / Today’s the day filing begins for local residents who want to run in the election of local school boards in the Consolidated Election on April 7, 2015. Pay attention to see who files first for ballot placement. Filing will be held at the DuPage County Court House in Wheaton through Dec. 22, 2014, because both of Naperville’s school district administration offices are located in DuPage County.
Original Post, Oct. 4, 2014 / Individuals who wish to run to serve on local school boards in Illinois now will find the nominating petition packets at the county board of election instead of their local school administration office.
According to the State of Illinois Local Election Official’s Handbook for the Consolidated Elections issued by the State Board of Elections, “candidates for the office of: (1) regional school trustee file with the county clerk if single county, or with the State Board of Elections if multi-county and (2) township school trustee (Cook County only) file with the township school treasurer (105 ILCS 5/5-4, 6-10). PA 98-115 effective July 29, 2013; candidates for school director and members of the board of education file with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located (105 ILCS 5/9-10).”
In other words, a 2013 state law change makes this the first time school board candidates must pick up and file their nominating petitions with the county clerk at the DuPage County Election Commission since the principal offices of both School Districts 203 and 204 are located in DuPage County. In the past, petition packets were available for pick up and filed at local school districts.
According to School District 204 Board Member Justin Karubas, the new procedures likely could be challenging for community members who may wish to serve on local school boards. Many residents are unaware of the new process and that now is the time for candidates to be passing petitions.
“Any new-time candidates will be at a total disadvantage,” said Karubas. “We’ll all be learning during this transition year.”
Petition signing runs now through Dec. 22, 2014
Since September 30, 2014, school board candidates who plan to run in the April 7, 2015, Consolidated Election have been able to begin passing petitions to appear on the April ballot. Be mindful that signing a petition for any individual hopeful does not necessarily mean support in the election. It simply means registered voters support that individual’s right to be on the ballot.
Depending on the school district, candidates must collect at least 50 signatures from voters who live in the district to secure a place on the ballot.
Following the same timeline as candidates for the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners, petitions must be filed between Dec. 15 and Dec. 22, 2014. Terms are four years.
At Naperville Community Unit School District 203, the terms of Terry Fielden, Mike Jaensch and Suzyn Price will be up for re-election on the seven-member school board.
At Indian Prairie School Unit School District 204, the terms of three— Lori Price, Justin Karubas and Mark Rising—of seven board members, will expire. Karubas noted that Price, Rising and he were passing nominating petitions and that all three of them planned to run for re-election on April 7, 2014.
Just as the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners, all seats on local public school boards are unpaid positions.
The DuPage County Election Commission has candidate packets available on its website at http://www.dupageco.org/Content.aspx?id=48208&terms=candidate%20packets%20for%20school%20board. Considering online availability, it appears that the commission would be unable to know if any interested candidates have downloaded packets. It could be that until the filing dates, the entire field of serious candidates will be unknown.
Petition packets also are available for pick-up at 421 N. County Farm Road near the DuPage County Court House in Wheaton. For more information, call (630) 407-5600.
On October 8, 2014, an informative notice was distributed via 204 E-News regarding the new procedures.
RELATED POSTS: Park Board Nominating Petition Packets Available / City Council Nominating Petition Packets Available
MEANWHILE VOTE NOV. 4: 2014 Illinois Gubernatorial Election & Voter’s Guide
Updated Oct. 8, 2014
