Job description
The Board of Trustees is elected at large from the district for a four year term and governs on behalf of the citizens of the school District. Once a year, the Board selects among its members for positions of leadership (President, Vice President, and Clerk.) The Board is responsible for representing the public interest, establishing policies that define the institutional mission, hiring and evaluating the CEO, assuring fiscal health and stability, and advocating and protecting the district.
Eligibility requirements
School boards are nonpartisan. Candidates for boards are not required to belong to a political party. In California, you may be elected or appointed to a governing board of a school district if you are: > 18 years of age or older; > a citizen of the state; > a resident of the school district; > a registered voter; and > not disqualified by the constitution or laws of the state from holding a civil office. An employee of a school district may not be sworn into office as an elected or appointed member of that school district's governing board unless and until he or she resigns as an employee. If the employee does not resign, the employment automatically terminates upon being sworn into office. Any registered voter is eligible to be a member of the county board of education except the county superintendent of schools, any member of his or her staff, or any employee of a school district in that county.
Filing instructions
Filing office address: 12400 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650
Filing phone number: 800-815-2666
Paperwork instructions: Submit paperwork to the county clerk's office.
Filing requirements: Candidates must fill out a "declaration of candidacy" form. In most cases, this must be picked up and filed at the county elections office. In a few counties, it's possible to get forms at local school district administration offices. According to the state Elections Code, declaration of candidacy forms must be filed during a period extending from 113 days to 88 days before the election is to be held. For November elections, candidate filing takes place for several weeks during the summer. Candidates should consult the county elections office to determine whether or not filing fees or nominating signatures are required. Occasionally a school district election is influenced by a city charter and filing procedures may vary somewhat. There is usually a fee if a candidate wishes to have a candidate statement printed in the voter's guide distributed to all local voters. A few school districts pay for the printing of this statement for all candidates to their board.