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SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS

School Board members are public officials who are elected or appointed to office as provided under state law.

In order for an otherwise eligible candidate’s name to appear on a ballot for a Board seat at a spring election, a candidate must complete and file all of the required ballot access forms in a timely fashion. In addition to other required forms, candidates for the Appleton Area School District, Board of Education are required to circulate and obtain sufficient nomination paper signatures in order to appear on the ballot. A candidate must file a minimum of 100 valid signatures and may submit no more than 200 total signatures.

The Office of the District Administrator shall be the designated filing location for all forms, petitions, oaths of office, and other filings related to Board elections.

There is no plan of apportionment for Appleton Area School District, Board of Education seats; all seats are considered “at large.”

A regular term of office for a Board member is three years, commencing on the 4th Monday of April.

 

Board Member Qualifications

Any elector of the Appleton Area School District is an eligible candidate for School Board membership. To be an eligible elector, one must meet the following qualifications:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be at least 18 years of age on election day
• Have lived in the Appleton Area School District for at least 28 consecutive days prior to filing a Declaration of Candidacy
• Not be convicted of a felony, unless pardoned

Candidate Information

Candidates for Board of Education membership are encouraged to become familiar with:

• Actions necessary to become a formal candidate (filing dates, required signatures, etc.)
• Campaign Finance Laws
• Expectations of Board members (ethical behavior, legal limitations, etc.)
• Knowledge of the District (District operations, budget, educational matters, etc.)
• Other laws related to candidacy and incumbency, especially those that deal with potential conflicts of interest (Legal Ref: 946.13 – Private interest in public contract; Code of Ethics 19.41 through 19.59)

Relevant information and data will be supplied to candidates running for the Board in adherence to established procedures. Aspiring Board of Education candidates can also request information at the Office of the District Administration.

 

Cross References:
Board Member Authority and Responsibility, 161
School Board Member Orientation, 162
Board Member Conflicts of Interest, 165.1

Legal References:
Wisconsin State Statutes 120.06(2), 6.02, and 120.42

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Adoption Date: November 22, 1993

Revised: November 27, 2023