School trustee candidates face deadline

People interested in running for a position on their local school board have until Thursday to file the paperwork.

There are 39 openings for trustees, ranging from one- to three-year terms.

In Bigfork, Columbia Falls and Kalispell, trustees represent either the elementary or high school district. Elementary trustees vote on elementary and high school issues; high school trustees vote only on high school issues.

Anyone interested in running for an open position must file a nomination petition and oath of candidacy with the district clerk by Thursday. The petition must include signatures from at least five voters registered in the appropriate school district.

Clerks in West Valley and Whitefish request that candidates turn in their paperwork no later than noon.

Those who are undecided about running for open seats will have one more opportunity to file after the Thursday deadline. Write-in candidates have until 5 p.m. April 8 to file declaration-of-intent forms with district clerks.

If the number of candidates after 5 p.m. April 8 is equal to or less than the number of openings on a school board, districts may cancel trustee elections. The candidates then will be elected by acclamation.

If there are more candidates than there are board openings, trustee elections will be held May 4.

Following is a list of openings on each district’s school board:

n Bigfork has two three-year terms up for election on its elementary board. Qualified voters must live in the Bigfork elementary district.

n Cayuse Prairie has one three-year term and one one-year seat available.

n There are three seats up for election on the Columbia Falls elementary board. Two are full, three-year terms; one is a one-year position. A three-year high school seat, which represents the West Glacier Elementary District, also is open.

n Creston has two three-year seats up for election.

n There is one three-year position available in the Deer Park district.

n Evergreen has two three-year terms up for election.

n There is one three-year seat and one two-year position open on the Fair-Mont-Egan board.

n Helena Flats has one three-year term and one one-year seat available.

n There are three seats available on Kalispell Public Schools elementary board. Two are full, three-year terms; one is a two-year position. There also is a three-year seat up for election on the district’s high school board; qualified candidates must live in the Somers-Lakeside or Kila district.

n Kila has two three-year positions up for election.

n There are two three-year terms available in Marion.

n Olney-Bissell has two three-year terms and one one-year position open.

n There is one three-year term available on the Pleasant Valley school board.

n Smith Valley has two three-year terms up for election.

n There are two three-year positions open on the Somers-Lakeside board.

n Swan River has one three-year term available.

n There is one three-year seat open on the West Glacier school board.

n West Valley has two three-year positions open.

n There are two three-year seats available on the Whitefish board.