Filing deadline approaches to appear on ballots as a school board trustee candidate

School elections are coming in May and people interested in serving on a school board have until March 27 to file paperwork to appear on the ballot. 

April 3 is the deadline for write-in candidates to file a declaration of intent and the last day a candidate may withdraw from the election. Votes only count for write-in candidates who file a declaration of intent. 

Prospective candidates may obtain and file declaration of intent and oath of candidacy forms from clerks in their respective school districts.  

Candidates must be registered voters living within the boundaries of the school districts they wish to serve. 

Trustee elections will be held May 6. If the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of openings on a school board by April 4, districts may cancel trustee elections and qualified candidates will be seated by acclamation. 

Being a trustee is a volunteer position. Trustees are responsible for making decisions that affect how schools operate. Duties may include developing and adopting the annual budget, policies, curriculum and collective bargaining agreements; employing the superintendent, setting district goals and priorities, serving on committees, visiting schools and overseeing facility concerns, among other responsibilities that support and hold school districts accountable. 

Following is a list of openings in each district and locations to file paperwork. All openings are for three-year terms, according to Flathead County Superintendent of Schools Cal Ketchum. 

— Bigfork has two openings. File paperwork at the district office located 600 Commerce St., Bigfork. For more information call 837-7400. 

— Cayuse Prairie has one open seat. File paperwork at the district clerk’s office, 897 Lake Blaine Road. For more information call 756-4560. 

— Columbia Falls has two open seats. File paperwork at 501 Sixth Ave. W., Columbia Falls. For more information call 892-6550. 

—  Creston has two openings. Paperwork may be filed at the school office, 4495 Montana 35. For more information call 755-2859. 

— Deer Park has one opening. File paperwork at the school located at 2105 Middle Road. For more information call 892-5388. 

— Evergreen has three open seats. File paperwork at the district office, 18 W. Evergreen Drive. For more information call 751-1111. 

— Fair-Mont-Egan has two open seats. File paperwork at the school located at 797 Fairmont Road. For more information call 755-7072. 

— Helena Flats has one opening. File paperwork at the district office, 1000 Helena Flats Road. For more information call 257-2301. 

— Kalispell has two open seats representing the elementary district. In the high school district, there is one seat open representing Kila and Somers-Lakeside. File paperwork at 233 First Ave. E. For more information call 751-3412. 

— Kila has two open seats. File paperwork at 395 Kila Road. For more information call 257-2428. 

— Marion has two openings. File paperwork at the school, 205 Gopher Lane. For more information call 854-2333. 

— Olney-Bissell has two open seats. File paperwork at the school, 5955 Farm to Market Road. For more information call 862-2828. 

 — Pleasant Valley has one open seat. File paperwork at the school, 7975 Pleasant Valley Road. For more information call 858-2343. 

— Smith Valley has two openings. File paperwork at the office located at 2901 U.S. 2 West. For more information call 756-4535. 

— Somers-Lakeside has one opening. File paperwork with the district clerk at 315 School Addition Road in Somers. For more information call 857-3661. 

— Swan River has one open seat. File paperwork at the school, 1205 Swan Highway. For more information call 837-4528. 

— West Glacier has two open seats. File paperwork at 160 Old River Bridge Road. For more information call 888-5312. 

— West Valley has two openings. File paperwork at the school at 2290 Farm to Market Road. For more information call 755-7239. 

— Whitefish has two open seats. File paperwork at the district office, 600 E. Second St., Whitefish. For more information call 862-8643. 

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