Eligibility Requirements

Board of Education candidates must be:

• a U.S. citizen,
• at least 18 years old,
• qualified voters in the South Orangetown Central School District,
• able to read and write, and
• residents of the school district continuously for at least one year prior to the election.

At the time when the board member takes office, they cannot be employed by the board on which they serve or live in the same household with a family member who is also a member of the same school board.

Process for Prospective Candidates

Nominating petitions for the May 21, 2024 Board of Education Election will be available starting Monday, March 4, 2024 from the District Clerk’s office at 160 Van Wyck Road, Blauvelt, New York. Candidates must submit petitions with a minimum of 61 signatures to the District Clerk’s office by Monday, April 22, 2024 at 5:00PM.

Board of Education Responsibilities

The communities of the South Orangetown Central School District are served by a five-member Board of Education. Each Board member is elected by a public vote and serves a three-year term without pay. There are no term limits for Board members.

As a legal arm of the government of the State of New York, our Board of Education is responsible for:

• Affirming a shared vision for the school district
• Establishing district goals and setting priorities
• Overseeing the general operation of the district (including educational programs, public relations, facilities and contracts)
• Setting educational policy
• Adopting and maintaining current policies in written format
• Approving and adopting the annual budget
• Hiring and evaluating the Superintendent
• Approving the appointment of all personnel and related collective bargaining agreements/contracts
• Deciding on the best utilization of resources
• Setting high standards of governance
• Meeting all requirements of New York State law

What Prospective Candidates Should Expect

New Board of Education members are required to participate in mandatory training courses through the New York State School Boards Association and attend Board of Education meetings and workshops, which are typically held on Thursday evenings twice monthly. Additional meetings may be added to the schedule, as needed, to carry out time-sensitive Board duties. Board members also serve on committees which may meet during the day or evening.

New York State School Boards Association resource: Running for the School Board: What All Prospective School Board Candidates Should Know.