Election

Next School Board Election: June 2010

Two seats will be up for election in June 2010: Area 3, currently held by School Board President Wes Storm; and Area 7, currently held by Daphne Richards-Cook. Petitions to run for these seats on the Board will be available in March, 2010.

Nolan and Kirkeby Win Seats; Kinniburgh Unopposed

Suzan Nolan was elected to represent Area 1 (south side of town) for three years on the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education. In Area 2 (north Robbinsdale and the center of the city) current board president Sheryl Kirkeby was re-elected to a new three-year term. Meanwhile, Doug Kinniburgh was unopposed in his bid for another three-year term. Kinniburgh represents Area 7 (Rapid Valley).

In 2010, two board seats will come up for election: Area 3 (West Rapid) and Area 6 (Black Hawk, Johnson Siding and other areas outside the city limits to the north and west). Those seats are currently held by Wes Storm and Daphne Richards-Cook.

Petition Would Change the Way School Board Members Are Elected

Without enough candidates to hold elections, voters have been disenfranchised under the current system for electing school board members. Citizens for a Responsible School Board is circulating petitions for a ballot initiative to change the system. We propose to consolidate the current seven areas into five and then have two board members elected citywide — anyone could run and everyone gets to vote. We feel this change would make the board more responsible to the electorate.

If you would like to sign the petition or receive a blank copy to circulate, please send an email to eabraha@mindspring.com.