AFSA High School Board Election Procedures

Elections are held annually for the Board of Directors. Each year three positions are up for election; one teacher representative, one parent representative and one community representative. Additional positions may be up for election if a board member leaves the board before their term expires.

The full School Board is comprised of nine members whose elected term starts on July 1^st each year. These members shall hold office for three years and until their successors are elected or approve. An individual may serve on the Board for no more than four consecutive full terms. In the event that a Board member is appointed to fill a vacancy the completion of that term shall not count as a full term. 

 

Elections timeline:

February: Determine which seats will be open for the upcoming elections and appoint an elections committee. This committee will develop messaging to recruit and encourage potential candidates for the board in each of the three representative categories. Members of this committee will be available to answer questions about becoming a board member, provide information about meetings and training requirements for people interested in becoming a board member.

March: Notice will go out to all stakeholders regarding the upcoming elections. Directions will be given on whom to contact for more information on becoming a board member.  Interested parties may self-nominate or be nominated by others.  Nominations will close at the end of March.

April: Candidates for the board will submit a bio that will be provided to all voting members of the community at least 30 days before elections begin.  Candidates will also be invited to the April board meeting to introduce themselves.

May: Elections will be done electronically. Voting will be open for 10 school days in May.  Elections will close at the end of May.

Election notices will be emailed to all eligible voters. Voters may request a paper copy ballot if desired. Eligible voters with no valid email on file will be mailed a paper copy ballot.

June: Election results are compiled, the Board Chair contacts all candidates to confirm continued interest, and the Board confirms elections at the June meeting.

Newly elected members attend June meetings as guests and are seated at the first meeting in July.

 

Voting process:

Electronic balloting is used. In the case of an electronic ballot failure, the election will be held by the third Friday in May.

Voters may request a paper copy ballot if desired.

A reminder to vote will be emailed to all electronic voters who have not accessed the system. This is done automatically through the website. All votes are confidential.

A computer will be made available in the school office for voting if requested.

The person(s) receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected. 

•  If the result of a school board election ballot vote ends in a tied vote, and one of the candidates involved in the tie is the incumbent, that individual will be declared the victor.
•  If the tie does not involve an incumbent a panel of current Board Members (one Teacher, one Parent, and one Community Member) will interview the candidates and make a recommendation to the Board as to who will receive the vacant seat. Interview process to be completed prior to the next month’s board meeting.

Election Eligibility:

An individual will be considered qualified to run for the Board of Directors by the following standards: MN Statutes: 124E.07 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The board members must not be related parties. The ongoing board must include:

(1) At least one licensed teacher.

(2) At least one parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled in the charter school who is not an employee of the charter school.

(3) At least one interested community member. A community member serving on the board must reside in Minnesota, must not have a child enrolled in the school, and must not be an employee of the charter school.

To serve as a licensed teacher on a charter school board, an individual must:

(1) Be employed by the school or provide at least 720 hours of service under a contract between the charter school and a teacher cooperative.

(2) Be a qualified teacher as defined under section 122A.16, either serving as a teacher of record in a field in which the individual has a field license, or providing services to students the individual is licensed to provide.

(3) Not serve in an administrative or supervisory capacity for more than 240 hours in a school calendar year.

 

Eligible voters:  

Staff members employed at the school, including teachers providing instruction under a contract with a cooperative, members of the board of directors, and all parents or legal guardians of children enrolled in the school are the voters eligible to elect the members of the school's board of directors. Each person will have no more than one vote.

The voter database will be reviewed to ensure all eligible voters have been included in the database and that no ineligible voters are in the database.

 

Midterm Board Vacancy:

If a board vacancy occurs through resignation the procedure below will be followed. 

A.    If a board vacancy occurs within 60 days from the start of an election:

• The open position will be included in the upcoming ballot.
• The results of that open position will be certified by a special meeting.
• The winning candidate will immediately fill the open position for the duration of the original term.

B.    If a board vacancy occurs within 60 days after an election closes and there were multiple candidates in the category/role where the vacancy occurs:

• The second (then third, fourth, etc.) place individual will be contacted and asked to fill the role until someone accepts the position.
•  If none of the candidates are willing to serve out the remaining term for the vacant position, proceed to section C. 

C.    If it is not within 60 days of an election or there is no other candidate in that category:

• The vacancy will be advertised to the AFSA community for 30 days and interested candidates will apply with a written expression of interest.
• A selection of qualified, interested candidates will be interviewed by the election committee who will bring a recommendation to the board for the next board meeting. 
• The committee will give preference to candidates who fit the category (parent/community/teacher) where the vacancy exists, but all candidates may be considered