School Board Hosting Info Session for Candidates

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The Kearney School District Board of Education will be hosting an informational session for individuals interested in filing as Board candidates on the April 2023 municipal election ballot.

The Board of Education candidate info session will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21 at the new KSD central office, which is located at 425 W. Washington St. All members of the public are welcome to attend.

This session is designed to provide useful guidance for those who may want to serve on the school board. Topics will include information about board elections and the roles and responsibilities of the school board members.

“School board service is a wonderful way of supporting our students, families, district staff and the entire community,” Darlene Bailey, President of the Board, said. “We hope this forum will ensure that potential candidates understand the expectations and work that come along with being on the school board as well as provide an opportunity for questions about board service.”

In Missouri, school boards are composed of seven non-partisan, volunteer elected officials who each serve three-year terms. The primary job of the school board is to employ the superintendent and set the strategic goals and policies for the district, according to the Missouri School Board Association. The board’s other roles include:

  • Facilitate public engagement in order to help meet stakeholder expectations

  • Oversee the Superintendent of Schools, who in turn is solely responsible for district management and operations

  • Monitor district progress toward meeting the Board goals

  • Govern itself effectively, efficiently and with transparency

Three Kearney School District school board seats will be open for the municipal election on April 4, 2023. Under Missouri statute, school board candidate filing for the April election will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6, and will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Candidates must be:

  • A U.S. citizen

  • A resident taxpayer of the district

  • A resident of Missouri for at least one year

  • At least 24 years old

  • Candidates must also be current on state and local taxes; have not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under Missouri or federal law; are not registered or required to register as a sex offender; and have filed required campaign documents for all previous campaigns, if any.

Visit www.ksdr1.net/board-of-education/elections for more details about forms, times and dates for the KSD school board election filing process. Questions can be emailed to Board Secretary Becky Burkemper at burkemperb@ksdr1.net.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story