OSSBA offers school board candidate information sessions

The Oklahoma State School Boards Association is hosting five virtual information sessions for Oklahomans interested in serving on a local school board.

The first three “So You Want to be a School Board Member?” sessions – at 6 p.m. Oct. 24, noon Nov. 15 and 6 p.m. Nov. 30 – are free and open to anyone who wants to learn more about school board service. The fourth and fifth free sessions at noon Dec. 13 and 6 p.m. Dec. 19 are designed for those who filed for a school board seat during the Dec. 4-6 filing period.

Shawn Hime, OSSBA’s executive director, and Julie Miller, OSSBA’s deputy executive director and general counsel, will share information and answer questions about the qualifications required to run for school board, the election process and the roles and responsibilities of school board members.

OSSBA, a non-profit organization that promotes quality public education through support for school board members and school districts statewide, launched the Get on Board campaign four years ago to emphasize the importance of school board service.

Public school districts in Oklahoma typically have three-, five- or seven-member school boards, with at least one seat up for election each year. If two people file for the same seat, a general election takes place in April. If more than two people file for the same seat, a primary election takes place in February.

To learn more about running for school board and to register for an information session, visit ossba. org/getonboard.