SCARSDALE'S NONPARTISAN SYSTEM FOR ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

Scarsdale traditionally has had two nonpartisan systems, one to nominate the Village Trustees, Mayor and Village Justice, and another to nominate School Board members. In the School Board election system, members of a nonpartisan nominating committee are elected by the voters to select one candidate for each vacant position on the School Board.

Since 1965, a nonpartisan citizens committee has nominated candidates for election to the School Board. The procedure for electing citizens to serve on this nominating committee, called the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC), as well as the process by which the SBNC nominates candidates to the School Board, is governed by a resolution adopted by the voters of the Scarsdale school district in 1965 and amended from time to time since then (the Resolution). Below is a description of the SBNC election and nominating processes as well as a description of the two other committees established by the Resolution -- the Administrative Committee, which runs the election for citizens to become members of the SBNC, and the Joint Committee, which recommends changes to the Resolution for approval by the voters.


SCHOOL BOARD NOMINATING COMMITTEE

The members of the SBNC are elected by the residents of their election unit, each unit corresponding to one of the five elementary school districts in Scarsdale -- Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote and Quaker Ridge. Each election unit elects six voting members, two each year, to serve staggered 3-year terms, so that there are 10 voting members elected to the SBNC each year, with a total of 30 voting members on the SBNC.

To become a candidate for the SBNC, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older and a resident of the school district for at least 30 days, and submit a petition, signed by ten residents of his or her election unit, to the Administrative Committee by a publicly announced deadline. There must be at least two candidates for each vacant seat on the SBNC. In any election unit where there are not at least two candidates for each vacancy, the Administrative Committee will appoint candidates to run for the seat.

The election for the members of the SBNC typically takes place in January. To vote for a candidate, one must be a citizen, 18 years or older and a resident of the school district for at least 30 days, and live in the election unit of the candidates for which the resident is voting.

Following the election, the newly constituted SBNC convenes. In addition to the 30 voting members, there are four non-voting members: the Chair and Vice Chair, who are elected by the SBNC members from the previous year; and two appointees from the community groups, the Town and Village Civic Club (TVCC) and the Confederation of Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Presidents (SNAP).

The SBNC is responsible for nominating candidates each year to fill upcoming vacancies on the School Board. To carry out its charge, the SBNC generally meets in January, February and March. Members of the SBNC seek qualified candidates for the School Board through identifying and proposing candidates. The community is invited to propose candidates as well. To be considered, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older and a resident of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of the election of the School Board members. Candidates must submit to the SBNC a biographical information form and are invited before the SBNC to respond to a set of questions provided in advance to the candidates.

The SBNC nominates one person for each vacancy on the School Board and the SBNC obtains the number of signatures required to place the nominee on the ballot in the School Board election held in May. Residents of the school district are asked to vote on the nominees as well as approve the budget for the following year for the school district.

Prior to the conclusion of its work, the SBNC also reviews its procedures regarding the nomination of candidates to the School Board and makes recommendations to the Joint Committee for changes to the Resolution.

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

The Administrative Committee is responsible for conducting the election of members to the SBNC. Each year, members of the Administrative Committee seek candidates, and invite the community to suggest candidates, for the SNBC to ensure that there are at least two candidates for each vacancy on the SBNC. The Administrative Committee prepares and mails a brochure containing the biographies of the candidates for the SBNC, along with any proposed changes to the Resolution, to every household in Scarsdale and posts the information online on the SBNC blog, www.scarsdalesbnc.blogspot.com. The Administrative Committee conducts the election of the candidates for the SBNC and notifies all candidates of the results.

The costs of the mailing of the candidate brochure and the administrative expenses of the Administrative Committee as well as the SBNC are financed solely by contributions from the community. The Administrative Committee is responsible for raising funds to cover such costs and to provide sufficient funds for the Administrative Committee in the succeeding year to begin its work.

The Administrative Committee is comprised of the 10 voting members of the SBNC whose terms expired that year, 3 members appointed by the TVCC, 3 members appointed by SNAP, and 3 members appointed from the community at large by the chair of the Administrative Committee. The appointed members serve staggered terms. All members of the Administrative Committee other than the Chair and Vice Chair may vote.

JOINT COMMITTEE

Each year, following the selection by the SBNC of candidates for the School Board, the Joint Committee meets to review the nominating procedure and to consider any proposed amendments to the Resolution. Any proposed changes to the Resolution are presented to the voters of the school district at the time of the SBNC elections. The proposed changes, however, must be made public at least 5 weeks prior to such elections and a public meeting must be held at least 3 weeks prior to the elections to give members of the community an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes.

The Resolution was last amended on January 8, 2008. The text of the Resolution, as amended, may be viewed elsewhere on this blog site.

The Joint Committee is comprised of all members of the outgoing Administrative Committee, members of the SBNC whose terms expired that year, and the incoming Chair and Vice Chair of the SBNC.