The Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education has opted to stick with four-year terms for board members.
The possibility of six-year terms – something allowed under election legislation approved and signed into law late last year – was an agenda item for the board meeting Monday evening (March 5th), but trustees took no action toward moving to the longer terms. Changes are coming, however, under the new law that reschedules Michigan school board elections for November in even-numbered years, meaning that school board candidates will be on the ballot with presidential or gubernatorial candidates in addition to other federal, state and local races.
The most immediate impact of the changes in the Three Rivers school district will be the extension of the terms of Trustees John Rentfrow and Waneta Truckey for six months. Their seats will be filled for a four-year period in November. The deadline for candidates interested in running for those positions to file nominating petitions with St. Joseph County Clerk Pattie Bender is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14th.
From information provided by Thrun Law Firm, P.C., here’s the scenario for implementation of the election changes in the Three Rivers school district:
Board Elections Currently Held Every Year in May (4-year terms; 2-2-2-1 rotation becomes 4-3 rotation)
School District X currently holds its board elections every year in May. Board member A’s and B’s terms of office expire on June 30, 2012, C’s and D’s on June 30, 2013, E’s and F’s on June 30, 2014 and G’s on June 30, 2015.
- School District X will not hold an election on May 1, 2012.
- Board member A’s and B’s terms are extended to December 31, 2012 (6 months). Board positions A and B will also be filled 4 years later in November 2016.
- Board member C’s and D’s terms are extended to December 31, 2014 (18 months), E’s and F’s to December 31, 2014 (6 months), and G’s to December 31, 2016 (18 months).
- If the board of education does not change its bylaws to provide for 6-year terms, board member positions C, D, E, and F will be filled at the November 2014 election (4 seats) and A’s, B’s and G’s positions will be filled at the November 2016 election (3 seats).
For additional insights regarding the changes, click on the following link to access a Kalamazoo Gazette story by Julie Mack: School board terms extended as elections moved to November in even-numbered years.
