The Sonoma County Office of Education will host an informational session from 5:30-7 p.m. on Monday, June 15, for people interested in running for a seat on their local school board or the County Board of Education.

A panel of current school board trustees will outline their duties and experiences as leaders in local education, and representatives from Sonoma County’s Registrar of Voters Office will outline requirements and deadlines for those who wish to run in November’s general election. Dozens of school board seats across Sonoma County are up for election, as is at least one seat on the county board.

“In California, school board trustees are given broad authority to decide how their communities’ schools are run,” said Dr. Amie Carter, Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools. “These elected leaders work within a framework provided by the state Legislature to set policies on curriculum, staffing, discipline, and many other critical areas of education.

“At the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), we want to demystify the process of running for office to support Sonoma County’s school districts in having engaged, thoughtful, diverse leadership teams.”

Current Sonoma County Board of Education President Peter Kostas, whose seat is up for election in November, will serve as one of the panelists.

“These are challenging times for Sonoma County school districts, their staff, and, most importantly, their students,” Kostas said. “We need dedicated trustees who can balance hiring and evaluating superintendents, promote financial stability, and provide an environment for the academic and social-emotional health of the students in their district.”

Kostas, whose term ends at the end of the year, is not seeking reelection in November.

Candidates for the county board or a school district board must live within the trustee area for which they are seeking election. The county trustee district boundaries closely align with the district boundaries for the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. To find out which school district you live in, as well as the current school board trustee who represents you, use this tool from the County of Sonoma.

To register for the candidate information session, please complete this Google Form by June 10. Interpretation is available with advance registration.