Filing begins for area school-board elections

School elections are coming in May, but now is the time for people interested in serving on a school board to file paperwork.

The deadline to file is March 23. March 30 is the deadline for a write-in candidate to file a declaration of intent.

Declarations of intent and oaths of candidacy may be obtained from and returned to a candidate’s respective school district.

Prospective candidates must be registered voters who have lived in the school district they wish to serve for at least a year.

School elections will be held May 2.

Being a trustee is a volunteer position. Trustees are responsible for making decisions that impact how schools operate.

Duties may include setting goals, adopting policies and budgets, managing the collective bargaining process and holding schools accountable.

Following is a list of openings in each district and locations to file paperwork:

n Bigfork has two, three-year terms in the elementary district and one three-year term in the high-school district. File paperwork at the district office, 600 Commerce St., Bigfork. For more information call 837-7402.

n Cayuse Prairie has two three-year terms available. File paperwork at the district clerk’s office, 897 Lake Blaine Road. For more information call 756-4560.

n Columbia Falls has three three-year positions up for election. File paperwork at 501 Sixth Ave. W., Columbia Falls. For more information call 892-6550.

n Two seats with three-year terms are open at Creston. Paperwork may be filed at the school office, 4495 Montana 35. For more information call 755-2859.

n There are two seats with three-year terms and one two-year term available at Deer Park. File paperwork at the school, 2105 Middle Road. For more information call 892-5388.

n Evergreen has two seats with three-year terms open. File paperwork at the district office, 18 W. Evergreen Dr. For more information call 751-1111.

n Fair-Mont-Egan has two three-year terms up for election. File paperwork at the school, 797 Fairmont Road. For more information call 755-2038.

n Flathead Valley Community College has three three-year terms available.

n Two three-year terms are open at Helena Flats. File paperwork at the district office, 1000 Helena Flats Road. For more information call 257-2301.

n There are four seats open in Kalispell. One of the positions is a three-year term in the high-school district. There are also three three-year terms available in the elementary district. File paperwork at 233 First Ave. E. For more information call 751-3412.

n Kila has two seats with three-year terms up for election. File paperwork at 395 Kila Road. For more information call 257-2428.

n Marion has three openings for one-year, three-year and two-year terms. File paperwork at the school, 205 Gopher Lane. For more information call 854-2333.

n A three-year term is up for election in Olney-Bissell. File paperwork at the school, 5955 Farm to Market Road. For more information call 862-2828.

n There is a two-year term and a three-year term available at Pleasant Valley. File paperwork at the school, 7975 Pleasant Valley Road. For more information call 858-2343.

n One three-year term is open in Smith Valley. File paperwork at the office, 2901 U.S. 2 W. For more information call 756-4535.

n A three-year term is available at Somers-Lakeside. File paperwork with the district clerk at 315 School Addition Road in Somers. For more information call 857-3661.

n Swan River has three seats up for election. Two seats are for three-year terms and the other is a one-year term. File paperwork at the school, 1205 Swan Highway. For more information call 837-4528.

n West Glacier has three seats up for election that have one-, two- and three-year terms. File paperwork at 160 Old River Bridge Road. For more information call 888-5312.

n One three-year term is available in West Valley. File paperwork at the school, 2290 Farm to Market Road. For more information call 755-7239.

n Three seats with three-year terms are open in Whitefish. File paperwork at the district office, 600 E. Second St., Whitefish. For more information call 862-8643.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.