November referendum will determine school board structure

Voters in Chester Community Unit School District 139 will decide in November how future school boards will be structured.

The Board of Education moved forward April 19 by approving to submit a referendum to the Randolph County Clerk to eliminate Township requirements for board positions.

Currently, the restriction states that not more than three members of the board may be selected from any one township. This creates the possibility of not filling all seven seats on the board.

In the past, if several candidates were running from one township and the township already had representation on the board, a candidate could receive more votes than other candidates in other townships but not be placed on the board due to the township restriction.

The proposition will now be placed on the ballot of the Nov. 6 General Election for the voters to decide if they want to open future board elections to all available candidates for all available seats.

Randolph County Clerk Pat Laramore says that the next school board election will be held April 2, 2019.

While unlikely, the possibility exists the school board could potentially have all new members after the April 2019 election.

According to School District Superintendent Brian Pasero, at that time all seven seats will be up for election. Board members choosing to remain on the board will need to run for re-election.

Terms of the board seats will be divided, some with terms of three years and others with four year terms.