Board Membership – Elections/Term of Office/Vacancies

Code Number: 200.5

Elections

Regular school elections take place on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years. Each regular school election is used to elect citizens to the Board to maintain a 7-member Board and to address questions that are submitted to the voters.

Citizens of the District community seeking a seat on the Board must file their nomination papers with the Board Secretary, or the Board Secretary’s designee, not more than 71 days nor less than 47 days before the school election unless otherwise directed in accordance with the timelines established by law.

If a vacancy occurs on the Board it shall be filled in accordance with law and Board policy.

It is the responsibility of the County Commissioner of Elections to conduct school elections.

Term of Office

Board members elected for a full term at a regularly scheduled school election serve for four (4) years. A Board member appointed to fill a vacant position will hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor is elected and qualified at the next regular school election unless there is an intervening special election for the District, in which event a successor shall be elected at the intervening special election. A Board member elected to fill a vacancy will serve out the unexpired term and until a successor is elected, or appointed, and qualified.

Being a Board member is a unique opportunity for a citizen to participate on the governing Board of the District. Eligible Board members are encouraged to consider running for more than one term.

Vacancies

A vacancy occurs as provided by law, which includes but is not limited to when a Board member dies, resigns or leaves office, or fails to reside in the District.

If a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of a term of office, the vacancy will be filled by Board appointment within 30 days of the vacancy. The Board shall publish a notice stating that the Board intends to fill the vacancy by appointment, but the electors of the District have the right to file a legally valid petition within 14 days of the publication of the notice to require the vacancy be filled by a special election.

If the Board has not filled a vacancy by appointment within 30 days after the vacancy occurs or if a valid petition for a special election is submitted, the Board Secretary will call a special election to be held no sooner than 30 days nor later than 40 days after the 30th day following the day the vacancy occurred.


First Adoption:
1992-09-22
Revision Adoption:
October 11, 1994/ December 16, 1997/ July 15, 2003/ August 10, 2009/ September 8, 2014/ December 12, 2016/ May 11, 2020
Reviewed Dates:
April 21, 2020
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code Chapters 39; 69; 277; §§ 274.7; 278.1, 279.6-.7

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