From the Illinois State Board of Education:
Nominating petition forms for the April 9, 2013 school board election in Evergreen Park Dist. 124 are now available.
Forms may be picked up in the office of the board secretary at the school district administrative office located at Central Junior High School
A school board candidate’s petition must be filed in the same office no earlier than 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, and no later than 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 24.
Candidates’ names will appear on the election ballot in the order in which their nominating papers are received in the secretary’s office.
Four seats on the seven-member Dist. 124 school board will be filled at the April 9 election. The terms of Beh Amado, John Kennedy, Terry McDonald and Bob MacDonald terms expire in April 2013.
Candidates elected next April will serve four-year terms expiring in April 2017.
To be eligible to serve, a school board member must be, on the date of election, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old, a registered voter, and a resident of Illinois and the school district for at least one year immediately preceding the election.
Elections are nonpartisan and board candidates do not indicate a political party affiliation. Candidates should be aware of financial conflict-of-interest limitations set forth in state law.
Nominating papers may be filed by the candidate in person, by mail or by an agent. They consist of the following:
1) Nominating petitions signed by at least 50 voters living within the district. Petitions must be securely bound together with pages numbered consecutively, and each page must carry the notarized signature of the petition circulator.
2) Statement of candidacy, which includes a request that the candidate’s name be placed on the official ballot, the address of the candidate, the office sought, and the statement that the candidate is qualified for the office and has filed (or will file before the close of the petition filing period) a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Government Ethics Act.
3) A receipt from the county clerk showing that the candidate has filed the statement of economic interests as noted above.
4) A loyalty oath, which is optional. A candidate may choose to file it or not.
Additional important date for candidates:
• Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013: last day for filing objections to a candidate’s nominating papers in the office of the board secretary.
• Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013: last day for a candidate to withdraw from nomination.
Further information on becoming a candidate in the April 9 board election is available by contacting Jo Ahrens, board secretary, or Kristie Kruse, designated representative, at 630-469-9100.
For more information about the nature and duties of serving on a school board, contact the Illinois Association of School Boards for a free booklet, “Your School Board and You.” You may request this free booklet by writing to: IASB, 2921 Baker Drive, Springfield, IL 62703. The booklet also is available at the Association’s website.
This article is about the upcoming school board elections in April of 2013. I wonder how many people sending out derogatory comments will be running or even better yet even voting in the next school board election? The last time there was an election, less than 3,000 voters even bothered to show up and vote. If you think the board is doing such a bad job then run for a spot on the board.
It is easy to stand up when the hostile group is on your side, but look at how you act when people disagree with you on this forum. As a parent of children who attend now and will attend D124 I have already felt problems with sharing what I have with teachers and teachers supporters. As for slap in the face, why don't you run for this board Mr Valdez. Put your money where your mouth is. As for high-quality education, we appreciate the teachers, but no one is Irreplaceable when it comes to a job. When current teachers that are teaching in D124 retire does not mean education suffers, it is the circle of life happens in all areas of workforce. As for board members I feel sorry for their families. Because not only the board members, but their children have suffered during this negotation. Some of the current board members have small children and the abuse they are taking is uncalled for, but maybe you and the teacher supports think it is fair game.
From reading the documention on this contract, I wish both sides would continue to make moves to meet in the middle and come to an agreement. Negotiation only works when both sides participate. If both sides would like to continue to stand their ground, that is their right, but hopefully they will continue to find a solution that is best for the community, the children at stake and they are both satisfied. I do not think we will look back at this time and remember it fondly, but mostly with embarassment how we have treated each other.