Deadline approaching for Chelsea Board of Education candidates

Are you interested in serving on the Chelsea Board of Education?

There are two 4-year seats up for grabs on Nov. 6 – the seats of current Board President Steve Olsen and Board Member Jeff Crowder.

Olsen is collecting signatures on his petitions and Crowder has chosen not to run.

The Board of Education changed the length of board terms from four years to six years on Jan. 23, 2012, but to keep staggered terms, those elected his year will serve for four years and the new terms begin on Jan. 1.

Then during the 2014 general election, there will be four board members up for election – two will serve 4-year terms and two will serve 6-year terms.

Here’s what Crowder had this to say about his decision not to run for re-election.

“It is true that I have not decided to run for a second term,” Crowder said. “It is largely an issue of time. I am in a program pursuing my doctorate and have been trying to juggle various commitments.”

“My time on the Chelsea School Board has allowed me to witness a wide variety of people in our community committed to education, including but not limited to students, parents, teachers, staff, and administration,” he said, adding, “I am proud to have been on the board when we hired our new school superintendent (Andy Ingall).”

Crowder also noted, “I am pleased to report that our previous superintendent (Dave Killips) put us in excellent financial shape, in spite of the many financial challenges.”

He said, “I am also comfortable leaving the board at the present time because the other board members are seasoned, capable, and passionate about our school district.”

So, there is an open seat if anyone would like to step in and fill Crowder’s shoes. Serving on the school board is a way for parents, especially, to have a hand in the future of all aspects of the Chelsea School District.

Candidates can file in two ways. They can pick up petitions at the County Building at 200 N. Main in downtown Ann Arbor and get a minimum of 40 signatures and a maximum of 100 signatures from registered voters residing in the school district or they can pay a $100 non-refundable fee.

Candidates should take note that signatures should be from voters in the City of Chelsea, Lyndon and Sylvan Townships as well as portions of Lima and Dexter Townships.

Those petitions with enough valid signatures must be filed by 4 p.m. on Aug 14 at the county building. Or, candidates can pay a $100 non-refundable fee and be placed on the ballot. Board of Education candidates run without a party affiliation and have until 4 p.m. on Aug. 17 to withdraw their names from appearing on the ballot.

The county does not keep records of who pulls petitions so there is no official way to know if anyone else has decided to toss a hat into the ring as of this date.