Are you a parent who cares about the quality of your child’s education in Oxford Schools?
Are you a taxpayer who cares about how your hard-earned dollars are spent by the Oxford school district?
If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, this is your lucky day.
Potential candidates for the Oxford Board of Education have until 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 7 to file nominating petitions with the Oakland County Clerk.
Up for grabs in the Tuesday, May 2 election are two, four-year seats currently occupied by incumbents Patricia Smith, who’s served on the school board since 1986, and Colleen Schultz, a board member for 7? years.
Smith, who’s currently president of the school board, told the Leader she will not seek re-election.
‘This is 20 years and that’s enough,? she said. ‘Time for somebody new to step in.?
Smith is in her second year of retirement from the Utica school district after spending 33 years as a teacher.
Now that she and her husband are both retired, they plan to travel and that would have conflicted with Smith’s duties on the school board.
‘If I’m going to be a board member, I want to give 100 percent,? she said. ‘I don’t want to miss board meetings.?
On the other hand, Schultz, who has two children attending Oxford High School and one at Lakeville Elementary, said she plans to seek re-election.
‘I think there are still some things I’d like to see accomplished,? she said.
Schultz, an Oxford Village resident and school board treasurer, believes ‘experience matters,? especially as the district ‘continues? to deal with ‘tough times financially.?
‘I’m just not ready to give it up,? she said.
Those wishing to run can pick up petition and affidavit forms at the township clerk offices within the Oxford school district.
The 96-square-mile district includes all of Oxford Township and portions of Addison, Brandon, Hadley, Metamora and Dryden townships.
A minimum of 40, but no more than 100 valid signatures are required for each candidate.
Only qualified registered voters of the Oxford School district may sign nominating petitions.
Voters may sign petitions for only as many cadidates as there are persons to be elected to office.
In other words, because there are two seats up for election a voter may only sign two petitions, no more.
If a potential candidate does not wish to circulate and file nominating petitions, he or she can instead pay a $100 nonrefundable fee to the county clerk’s office in lieu of a petition.
The last day to register to vote in the school election is Monday, April 3.