Board Member Elections

INCUMBENT NOTIFICATION OF NONCANDIDACY

December 26, 2025

Deadline for Incumbents to File a Notification of Noncandidacy By filing the Notification of Noncandidacy, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the required date, the incumbent(s) listed here have given advance notice that they do not presently intend to be a candidate for reelection to their school board office.

ELECTION DATES & DEADLINES

December 1, 2025	First Day that Nomination Papers May be Circulated for Signatures. Not less than 100, nor more than 200, are required. It is strongly recommended that a Campaign Registration Statement (Form CF-1) be on file with the District prior to circulating Nomination Papers.
January 6, 2026	Deadline for Filing Ballot Access Documents Declaration of Candidacy, Campaign Registration Statement, and Nomination Papers must be filed no later than 5:00 p.m. District offices will be closed December 24, 2025, through January 2, 2026, for AASD Winter Break. District offices will be open on January 6, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., for the acceptance of Candidacy documents.
February 17, 2026	Spring Primary Election (if necessary)
April 7, 2026	Spring Election
April 27, 2026	School Board Members Take Office

2025-26 Board of Education Candidate Information and Forms

All ballot access forms are due by 5:00 p.m. on January 6, 2026. You may utilize the ballot access documents below to qualify for the April 2026 election.

• Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Guide for Candidates 
• Ballot Access Checklist
• Declaration of Candidacy (EL-162SD)
• Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1)
• Nomination Papers for Nonpartisan Office (EL-169)
• Campaign Finance Checklist (ETIS-8)
• Campaign Finance Overview for Local Candidate Committees 

Resources

• Wisconsin Elections Commission Website

• (Most) Election Commission Forms are found here

• Wisconsin Ethics Commission Website

• Wisconsin Ethics Commission Forms (select “Form” in “Document Type”) are found here

Candidate packets are also available at the Scullen Leadership Center, 131 E. Washington Street, Suite 1A, Appleton.

Updated for the 2026 Spring Election

What are the legal qualifications for being a school board member?

A board member must be an eligible elector of the school district. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, in order to qualify for placement on the ballot as a candidate in a school board election, a person must: 

(a) Be a citizen of the United States;

(b) Be 18 years of age or older;

(c) Have no disqualifying prior criminal convictions; and

(d) Be a resident of the school district for at least 28 consecutive days at the time of filing a declaration of candidacy.

How are school board seats elected in the Appleton Area School District?

All school board seats in the AASD are elected at-large. This means that school board members represent the district in its entirety; there are no specific seats for “representative areas'' in the Appleton Area School District. 

How do you determine if a primary is necessary?

The school board shall require a primary election if there are more than twice as many candidates as there are members to be elected. As there are three (3) seats on the ballot for 2026, a primary will be necessary if seven (7) or more individuals file ballot access documents prior to the filing deadline. 

Do school board members get paid for their service?

School board members in the Appleton Area School District do not receive a salary or stipend for their service. 

How much time will be required for school board duties?

Please review the current meeting schedule here. The Board of Education typically meets for regular business meetings on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. These meetings are held in the evenings. Board members may be requested to attend additional meetings throughout the school year for various reasons, such as professional development, targeted work sessions, and student expulsion hearings. These meetings may occur at differing times, including during the regular business day. 

In addition, meeting preparation/review of materials, checking board emails, and other school board duties require time outside of meetings. The best way to help you determine the answer to this question is to talk to current and past Board members. They will be able to provide tremendous insight into this question, along with helping you to understand the roles and responsibilities of this important and rewarding opportunity.

Where can I find out more about school board policies? 

The Board of Education governs through policy. All of the Appleton Area School District policies can be found on our website using the following links:

• Board Governance Policies
• District & School Policies