Elector presents petition to shift school board to three-area plus four at-large seats

An elector identified in the meeting as Chad presented a citizen petition asking voters to change the district’s board apportionment. He said the proposal would keep seven total members but elect one representative from each of the three existing apportioned areas and four at-large members chosen districtwide, with residency required only for the three area seats.

Chad said the change would phase in over three years as current terms expire and explained the next step is to collect 100 qualified elector signatures by Sept. 28 so the question can appear at the district’s annual meeting. He told the board, “I have to have it to Rich with a 100 qualified signatures by September 28.” He also clarified circulation rules: circulators must provide name, date, county and street address (no P.O. boxes), and the clerk is responsible for verifying eligibility.

Board members asked procedural questions and noted that the board itself does not vote on the petition; if the petition reaches the annual meeting, electors attending that meeting vote on it. Chad emphasized he was acting as an elector, not as a board member, saying, “I’m not doing this as a board member… Doing this is me just being an elector of the school district.”