So you want to be a School Board Member?

School Board seats are up for election this November. Let's talk about how you can get on the ballot.

In Ohio, there are 611 school districts serving communities of all shapes and sizes. Here in Miami County, there are nine school districts and this November seats on those boards are on the ballot.

Candidates for school board seats are required to have candidate petitions signed and certified in order to qualify for the November ballot. All candidates that meet the office qualification and have enough signatures on their petitions are certified run on the same ballot. Depending on the school district, the top two or three candidates (depending on how many seats are up) will be declared elected at the end of the election.

What does a School Member do?

School board members serve for four years and most boards of education traditionally meet once per month. School board members are responsible for hiring the Superintendent (the individual responsible for the day-to-day operations of the district) and other positions (such as the Business Manager and Treasurer).

The work of the board revolves around setting the policy and direction of the school district. Decisions on curriculum, grounds and buildings, student transportation and setting student and employment policies come under the direction of the board. Fortunately, school boards have licensed professionals that are hired by the district to help guide and advise the district. School board members also spend time approving donations and all the personnel recommendations made from the Superintendent.

School boards also hold a special responsibility to place tax levies on the ballot. School districts themselves do not have the authority to levy taxes without the approval of the electorate, so every request that the district makes of voters from building issues to general operating funds comes from the approval of voters and that process starts with the Board of Education.

I will say that when I served on the school board here in Troy for a couple years, there was one part of the role I really enjoyed. At each graduation, board members particiapted by handing out diplomas to the graduating class. Shaking the hands of these youngesters on one of the biggest days of their life (at least up to that point), was a real honor.

How can I get on the ballot?

In Ohio, there are different types of school districts, there are City School Districts, Local School Districts and Exempted Village School Districts; there are also Joint Vocational School Districts, but that is a completely different type that isn’t a part of this discussion. For purposes of getting the ballot, these distinctions do matter, but they are generally nothing to get to worried about.

All candidates need to meet some of the basic requirements of the position that are outlined in both the Ohio Revised Code and the State Constitution. Bascially, all candidates must be age 18 by the general election, must be a resident of the district and must be a registered voter in the district.

In Miami County there are only two city school districts, Troy and Piqua. In each of these districts, candidates that want to serve on the school board need a certain number of signatures based on size. If the population of the school district is less than 20,000, candidates need 25 signatures. If the population of the school district is between 20,000 and 50,000, candidates need 75 signatures. In Troy, to get on the ballot, candidates need 75 signatures of voters. In the Local and Exempted Village School Districts, candidates need only secure 25 signatures of voters.

Candidates need to use the correct form from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website in order to certify for the ballot. Candidates running on their own need to use Form #3-T; there is also an option to run for the seat with other candidates. A slate of candidates can use Form #3-U. Once candidates have secured their signatures, they need to file these signatures with the Board of Elections by August 9, 2023 and pay a $30 filing fee.

Where to get help?

There are certain rules and guidelines about the process of being a candidate for the school board and the Ohio Secretary of State website and the Miami County Board of Elections website are both excellent resources to help guide your journey. The people that work at these agencies can’t give you legal advice, but they can give you access to the information you need.

This page on the Ohio Secretary of State website has links to the information you need to be a candidate, including the 2023 Ohio Candidate Guide (A MUST READ) and links to the correct petition forms.

This page on the Miami County Board of Elections also has access to voter lists and other information, including a very helpful petition checklist that can be very helpful for you.

What questions do you have?

Any comments or questions? Please feel free to leave it in the comment section. Thanks for reading and if you decide to take the plunge to be a candidate…..good luck!