D229 School Board Seeks Candidates

Nominating petition forms for the April 9, 2013 consolidated election in the Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229 are now available.

The forms may be picked up from the board secretary in the superintendent’s office in the administration center at Oak Lawn Community High School at 9400 Southwest Highway, Room 123, Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

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A school board candidate's petition must be filed in the same office no earlier than 7:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 17, and no later than 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 24.

Four full-term seats on the seven-member board of education will be filled at the April 9 election. Terms for the four elected positions will run from April 2013 to April 2017.

The D229 school board seats up for renewal are currently held by:

• Daniel Janik, currently serving as board president
• Melissa Slade, vice-president of the school board
• David Altenburg, board secretary
• Jim Melnik, board member at large

Melnik was filling the seat vacated by James O'Malley who resigned mid-term. The seat is up for a full, 4-year term. Should more than four candidates run for the school board, the top four vote-getters would win election.

To be eligible to serve, a school board member must be, on the date of election, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old, a registered voter, and a resident of Illinois and the school district for at least one year immediately preceding the election.

Elections are nonpartisan and board candidates do not indicate a political party affiliation. Candidates should be aware of financial conflict-of-interest limitations set forth in state law.

Prospective candidates are required to gather the signatures of least 50 qualified (registered) voters in the district are required on the nominating petitions. Candidates are also required to bind their nominating papers in “book form fastened together at one edge in a secure and suitable manner.”

At the last go-round in 2011, Meilnik’s nominating petitions were challenged when he fastened them together with a paperclip, as did three other D229 board candidates. Illinois election laws do not specify the types of fasteners required.

An electoral board comprised of three D229 board members overturned the objection filed against Melnik and he went on to win the two-year term.

For more information about running for the Dist. 229 school board, contact Linda Schlimm at 708-741-5602.

Do you think the D229 school board needs a change? Tell us in the comments.

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