Filing open for local school board elections

People interested in becoming school board trustee candidates have until March 26 to file paperwork to appear on ballots.

Paperwork includes a declaration of intent and oath of candidacy.

April 2 is the deadline for write-in candidates to file a declaration of intent, or for candidates to withdraw from the election if they wish.

Paperwork may be obtained from and returned to a candidate’s respective school district. Candidates must be registered voters living in the school district they wish to serve.

If the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of openings on a school board by April 3, districts may cancel elections and seat qualified candidates by acclamation, otherwise election day is May 5.

Trustees are volunteers representing the public who are responsible for making decisions that impact how schools operate. Duties typically include reviewing and adopting policies, annual budgets and educational programs; setting achievement goals, and holding schools accountable.

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

- Bigfork has three three-year terms open. File paperwork at the district office, 600 Commerce St., Bigfork. For more information call 406-837-7400.

- Cayuse Prairie has two three-year terms open. File paperwork at the district clerk’s office, 897 Lake Blaine Road. Call 406-756-4560.

- Columbia Falls has three three-year terms open. File paperwork at 501 Sixth Ave. W., Columbia Falls. Call 406-892-6550.

- Creston has a two-year term and two three-year terms open. Paperwork may be filed at the school office, 4495 Montana 35. Call 406-755-2859.

- Deer Park has a one-year term; a two-year term and two three-year terms open. File paperwork at the school, 2105 Middle Road. Call 406-892-5388.

- Evergreen has two three-year terms open. File paperwork at the district office, 18 W. Evergreen Dr. Call 406-751-1111.

- Fair-Mont-Egan has two three-year terms open. File paperwork at the school, 797 Fairmont Road. Call 406-755-2038.

- Flathead Valley Community College has three three-year terms open. The college is located at 777 Grandview Drive. Call 406-756-3822.

- Helena Flats has a two-year term and two three-year terms open. File paperwork at the district office, 1000 Helena Flats Road. Call 406-257-2301.

- Kalispell has two three-year terms open representing the elementary district. There are also two seats open representing the high school district. One high school seat is for a three-year term representing Marion, Olney-Bissell, Pleasant Valley, Smith Valley and West Valley. Another high school seat is for a three-year term representing Evergreen and Helena Flats. File paperwork at 233 First Ave. E. Call 406-751-3412.

- Kila has a one-year term and two-three year terms open. File paperwork at 395 Kila Road. Call 406-257-2428.

- Marion has a one-year, a two-year and a three-year term open. File paperwork at the school, 205 Gopher Lane. Call 406-854-2333.

- Olney-Bissell has a three-year term open. File paperwork at the school, 5955 Farm to Market Road. Call 406-862-2828.

- Pleasant Valley has a three-year term open. File paperwork at the school, 7975 Pleasant Valley Road. Call 406-858-2343.

- Smith Valley has a three-year term open. File paperwork at the office, 2901 U.S. 2 W. Call 406-756-4535.

- Somers-Lakeside has a one-year, a two-year and two three-year terms open. File paperwork with the district clerk at 315 School Addition Road in Somers. Call 406-857-3661. The two three-year trustee terms are new seats increasing the total number of board members from five to seven due to population growth. After two individuals are elected, they will draw lots to determine the official duration of their term. One will be two years and the other three years, according to Montana code. This is an attempt to maintain the number of open seats each election.

- Swan River has two three-year terms open. File paperwork at the school, 1205 Swan Highway. Call 406-837-4528.

- West Glacier a three-year term open. File paperwork at 160 Old River Bridge Road. Call 406-888-5312.

- West Valley has a three-year terms open. File paperwork at the school, 2290 Farm to Market Road. Call 406-755-7239.

- Whitefish has three three-year terms open. File paperwork at the district office, 600 E. Second St., Whitefish. Call 406-862-8643.