Residents interested in running for spots on the Mahwah school board need to file nominating petitions by Tuesday. The NJ School Boards Association late last week released a reminder that anyone interested in running for a spot on the Board of Education needs to turn in petitions to the county clerks office by 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 5.

For the first time, school board elections in Mahwah this year will be held in November, alongside municipal, county, state and federal elections. The board voted earlier this year to eliminate the school budget vote and move the board elections after new legislation gave districts the option to do so. According to the NJSBA, 85 percent of New Jersey’s elected school boards will now hold their elections in November.

Three seats on the Mahwah school board – those currently held by Candace Larson, Christine Davis and John Dolan – are up for election this year.

A representative from the Bergen County Court system said she could not give out specific information about potential candidates who filed petitions until after Tuesday’s deadline. Davis told Patch she will be seeking reelection. Larson and Dolan did not respond to a request for comment.

The school boards association released the following information to those interested in filing petitions to run:

Online Kit Available NJSBA has developed an online School Board Candidate Kit that informs citizens about candidacy requirements, as well as the responsibilities of a board of education member. The kit includes:

• A guide on how to become a school board member, with frequently asked questions about the responsibilities of serving on a board
• A calendar of important dates in the school election process
• Links to online candidate briefings
• A summary of the New Jersey School Ethics Act
• Links to each county clerk’s office and, if available, a nominating petition approved by the county clerk. (Some county clerks require candidates to contact their offices by phone or email to obtain a nominating petition.) 

Get more information on petitions at the Bergen County Clerk’s office website.