THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602210174
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: COMPILED BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Four of the School Board's nine seats will be up for election May 7. What's at stake? What does the School Board actually do? How can a local resident become a candidate?
Following are the answers to these and other commonly asked questions:
Q: Why are voters now electing School Board members?
A: In a 1993 referendum, city voters approved the switch from an appointed to an elected school board by a margin of nearly 5-to-1. In the past, City Council members appointed local residents to the board.
Residents in every South Hampton Roads city except Norfolk have switched from appointed to elected boards.
In 1992, Virginia became the last state to give voters the power to elect board members.
Q: What does the board do?
A: Among the responsibilities of the School Board are the following:
Developing policies that guide the school district.
Evaluating trends and needs of the district.
Approving curricula, which are blueprints of what will be taught.
Helping develop a school district budget.
Employing, directing and evaluating the superintendent of schools.
Q: Why should Chesapeake residents care about the School Board election?
A: The actions of the board affect daily life, impacting everything from learning conditions to the city's ability to attract new families and businesses to Chesapeake.
Tax dollars also are involved: The city's 1995-96 contribution to local schools accounts for 46 percent of the district's $174.1 million operating budget.
Q: Whose seats will be up for grabs?
A: The following board members must run for office if they want to keep their seats: Larry Brayboy, Mary Korving, James Wheaton and Chairman Maury Brickhouse.
Q: How long will the four elected board members serve?
A: Four years. Their terms begin July 1.
The other five members, who were elected last December, have two-year terms and their seats will be up for election in 1998.
Q: How will board members be elected?
A: At-large. That means voters can vote for candidates from any part of the city.
Q: Will board members have the power to tax?
A: No.
Q: Who can run for the School Board?
A: To run, you must be:
At least 18 by the May 1996 election.
A registered voter. (Felons or persons ever deemed mentally incompetent by a court are forbidden to run.)
A U.S. citizen.
At least a one-year Virginia resident by Election Day.
A Chesapeake resident.
Q: Where can I get more information if I choose to run for a School Board seat?
A: The state Board of Elections has a how-to guide. Call 1 (800) 552-9745 to request one. The board also provides the forms that candidates are required to complete and file.
Q: When is the filing deadline?
A: 7 p.m. March 5 at local voter registrar's office.
Q: Must I file petitions supporting my candidacy?
A: Yes. And the petitions must have at least 125 signatures from qualified voters. The registrar's office will match the signatures against the city's list of registered voters. MEMO: What key issues do you think School Board candidates should address? We
want to hear from you. Call INFOLINE at 640-5555 and press 7654 to share
your views. A reporter may contact you; your comments also may appear in
upcoming articles about the School Board election.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION by CNB