Cindy DiFazio - Staff Writer

Often, community-minded individuals contemplate running for local office, but do not know how to get started.

Those who would like to help shape the future of our greatest resource, our children, might want to consider running for a local school board. There are currently no school board positions open in the Jac-Cen-Del or Milan school districts. However, in the South Ripley district, there are slots available in the following:
* District 1 - Brown Township
* District 2 - Shelby Township
* District 4 - Otter Creek Township
* District 5 - Johnson Township

According to an informational memo sent out by the Indiana School Boards Association, the first day to file a Petition of Nomination with the clerk of the circuit court was July 26. The last day and hour for filing a petition is Friday, August 25 by noon. Petitions are available and must be filed with the clerk of the circuit court of Ripley County at the courthouse in Versailles.

Petitions are self-explanatory and basically require the candidate’s signature and the signatures of at least ten registered voters within the boundaries of the school corporation.

To be eligible for public office, candidates must be registered to vote in the election district the person seeks to represent no later than the deadline for filing the petition of candidacy. A school board

candidate must have resided in the school corporation for at least one year before the election. The age requirement is at least 21. School corporation employees are not eligible to serve on a school board.

Another stumbling block for an aspiring school board member might be a lack of information regarding what the office requires in the way of duties and responsibilities. To alleviate the problem, the Indiana School Boards Association will present forums in September to help candidates learn “what it takes to be an informed, effective public school board member.” ISBA staff will conduct the seminars.

Covered in the two-hour session will be:
* Roles and responsibilities
* Open meetings and executive sessions
* Selected School Board issues.
The session will be at Scottsburg Senior High School, 500 S. Gardener St. in Scottsburg on Thursday, September 14 from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

A $35 registration fee (payable at the door) includes a school board candidate’s kit filled with information about becoming a board member. There is no need to register in advance, but if you have questions or need more information you can call the ISBA at (317) 639-0330.