Should school-board elections be in November, or stay in May?
Clarkston Board of Education may be voting on it at Monday’s meeting.
“Costs have gone up quite a bit ? it’s an issue because it’s getting more and more expensive,” said Trustee Susan Boatman.
Boatman, who advocated moving elections to November during her campaign last year for school board, collected county-wide information on costs and election schedules, including:
? This year’s May 5 school board election, with two open seats, will cost about $44,000, but if scheduled alongside a November regular election, cost to the school district would be zero;
? Voter participation is low for May elections, high for even-year November elections;
? November elections do not coincide with fiscal year, while May elections do;
? Political influence would be higher in November than May;
? Campaign costs for candidates would be higher in November;
? Public attention would be higher in November;
? Voter support for district ballot initiatives would probably be lower in November than in May; and
? Eleven districts in Oakland County have November elections, four only in even-numbered years, while seven have May elections.
Limiting school board elections to even-year Novembers, in which three, four-year terms would be up one cycle, the other four the next, would be risky, but he might still vote for it, said board Treasurer Joe Armstrong.
“Half the board could be brand new,” Armstrong said. “But we’re talking tonight about the money factor (at the Jan. 26 budget workshop). Elections in even years cost nothing.”
“I also think money is a top issue,” said Trustee Joan Patterson.
Patterson said campaigning was difficult this past May, when she was reelected.
“It was hard this term to get people to understand we have an election,” Patterson said. “People didn’t realize we had an election in May. It might be tougher to compete with other messages in November, but I think more people will be listening. I’m for the challenge of telling people about educational issues. I welcome more people involved in the process.”
Aligning board members’ terms with fiscal year is an important advantage for May elections, said board Secretary Ronald Sullivan.
“It’s better to come in with the fiscal year, in my opinion,” Sullivan said. ”
Trustee Barry Bomier agreed.
“I can’t imagine new board members coming in, in November, looking at the budget, fresh out of gate. That seems irresponsible. I need to be convinced a little more.”
School board candidates could also get overlooked, at the back of a busy November ballot, said board President Stephen Hyer.
“With offices at the back of the ballot, we don’t know people are making educated votes,” Hyer said. “I’d hate to see school board candidates elected who aren’t in the best interest of the district, just because people didn’t know the candidates.”
Board Vice President Cheryl McGinnis said she is passionate about the issue, and could go either way.
“I’m also a strong advocate for people voting,” McGinnis said. “I’m willing to look at and discuss potential ways to save money. But I’m pessimistic. There may be no savings down the road ? a clerk could complain about it and get the law changed.”
Political rhetoric in the media also complicates the issue, she said.
“I don’t like how this has played out in the press,” she said. “We have four election dates, but if we don’t choose the one they want, we’re not doing our job.”
Complicating the issue is state law making the switch to November irreversible, Hyer said.
“It ties our hands,” he said. “I’d like to see more data from other districts before I’d consider favoring change. If we make a mistake, it’s not something we could change back. That’s a mistake in the legislation. I don’t know why they don’t have the option to try it.”
The district would still be allowed to run school bond campaigns on any of the four available election dates, in February, May, August, or November, Boatman said.
“For me, it’s important to embrace the democratic process and get more people to vote,” she said.
“Members of the public perceive the school board manipulating election results with May election,” Armstrong said. “We can’t control how educated voters are. I think we need to give people a chance to vote. More voters, somehow I think that’s a good thing.”
The school election consolidation law was signed in 2004, taking effect in 2005.
Voter turnout in last May’s election was 4.9 percent. About 70 percent voted in this past November’s presidential election.
Clarkston Board of Education meets second and fourth Mondays of the month, 7 p.m., at the school Administration Building, 6389 Clarkston Road. For more information, call 248-623-5400.