Consider school board run

It’s never too early — or too late, depending on your perspective — to start thinking about running for your local Board of Education.

The deadline for filing nominating petitions is only about three weeks away — 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25.

The election is Tuesday, April 16.

If you haven’t thought about it, but are willing to consider a run, the New Jersey School Boards Associations, which is currently campaigning to urge qualified citizens to run, has developed a school board candidate kit filled with information about candidate requirements, important school election dates and a sample nominating petition.

The kit also provides information about the New Jersey School Ethics Act and a schedule of candidates’ briefings to be conducted by the state’s county school boards association.

The kits should be available at your local board office or can be obtained by calling the New Jersey School Boards Association at (609) 278-5202.

Each April three, three-year board seats become available in most towns, together with any unexpired vacant seats.

Given the important school issues facing residents in all of the communities served by the Sentinel, school board members have a very important role to play.

Whether dealing with growing enrollment pressures, difficult budgetary decisions that directly affect taxpayers, and children’s education or other issues, being part of the school board is a necessary civic responsibility for members of a community.

Board membership can also be a terrific learning experience for school parents and a possible steppingstone to other elective offices.

Why not give it a try, or at least look into it?