Board Member Qualifications

North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education members are elected by the public at the Annual Budget Election in May of each year.  There are three seats per year that are open.  Incumbents whose terms expire, must also run for re-election if they wish to remain on the Board of Education. Below are the qualifications for running for the Board of Education.  Please remember that members of the Board of Education are not paid to serve and receive no compensation of any kind for serving as a Board of Education member.

Qualifications

• Must be able to read and write (§2102).
• Must be a qualified voter of the district; that is, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age or older, and not adjudged to be incompetent (§§2102, 2012, 2507(7); Elec. Law §5-106(6)).
• Must be and have been a resident (but need not be a taxpayer) of the district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one year immediately before the election (§§2105, 2502(7), (9)(d).
• May not have been removed from any school district office within the preceding year (§2103(2)).
• May not reside with another member of the same school board as a member of the same family(§2103(3).
• May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office (Matter of Schoch & Betheil, 21 ED Dept. Rep 300 (1981).

Seeking Election to the Board of Education

February 1^st of each year, the District Clerk has Nominating Petition Packets available to all qualified and interested individuals. Individuals and incumbents seeking re-election are required to submit nominating petitions containing at least 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election of the members boards (May of the previous year’s election vote total.).  Individuals and incumbents seeking re-election wishing to run will also have to submit a photograph and biography to the District Clerk by April 1^st.    Forms and deadlines are included in the Nominating Petition Packets.  To request a packet, please contact Jilian Herrera, District Clerk, at 218-2131.

Board of Education Duties and Responsibilities

Board of Education meetings are held at least twice per month and typically more frequently prior to the adoption of the annual District budget in May each year.  Additionally, Board members are asked to serve on various Board committees and interview teams.  The Board of Education is a demanding office carried on in the public eye, using public funds.  The board is primarily a policy-making body and must delegate administration to school staff.  The Board has the responsibility for the entire district, not just one school, age group or philosophy of instruction.  They must meet a range of responsibilities assigned by the New York State Constitution, Education Law and other statutes.  Decision making is the responsibility of the entire board collectively, not by individual board members.