BOARD OF EDUCATION - GENERAL INFORMATION

The Board of Education, a branch of state government, is elected locally by the citizens of Binghamton.  Every school district has its own school board.  The Board’s primary responsibilities are:  to set local policy, to levy property taxes to help meet the district budget, and to hire a Superintendent to run the schools in the district.  Board members are elected to five (5) year terms.

Elections:  School Board elections are held the third Tuesday in May of each year.  One or two of the seven (7) board members stand for election in any given year.

Vacancies:  If a vacancy occurs on the Board between elections, the Board may choose to appoint someone to fill the vacancy; however, the appointed person serves only until the next election.

Running for the Board:  Any resident (who does not hold a city office) is eligible to run for the Board (Policy #1040).  To qualify, you:

1. Must be able to read and write.
2. Must be a qualified voter in the district – a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, and not adjudged to be an incompetent.
3. Must have been a resident of the district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one (1) year immediately preceding the election.
4. Must not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office – district superintendent, supervisor, clerk, tax collector, treasurer or librarian.
5. May not hold any city office other than that of a police officer or fire fighter.
6. May not reside with another member of the same school board as a member of the same family.
7. May not be a current employee of the school board.
8. May not have been removed from any school district office within the preceding year.
9. May not be a convicted felon whose maximum prison sentence has not expired or who has not been pardoned or discharged from parole.

Voter qualifications:  To vote in the school elections, you must be:

1. A United States citizen;
2. 18 years of age or older on the date of election;
3. A resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to election day;
4. A registered voter.

To register to vote, please contact the Broome County Board of Election office at 778-2172 between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM or in person at the County Office Building, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY.

NOTE:  You are considered registered to vote if you were (a) registered for the last preceding general election or (b) registered under permanent personal registration.

Absentee Ballots:  Absentee Ballots are available, upon proper application, to any qualified voter who will be unable to vote in person on the day of the election due to illness/physical disability, hospitalization, incarceration or travel outside of the county/city of residence.  Applications must be received by the District Clerk at least 7 days before the election.  You can obtain an application from the District Clerk, Monday – Friday between the hours of 8 AM – 4 PM by:

• Phone:   762-8100 ext. 319;
• Email: browns@binghamtonschools.org;
• In person: 164 Hawley Street, 3^rd Floor (Room 305C), Binghamton, NY

NOTE:  Voters who are registered as ‘permanently disabled’ with the Broome County Board of Elections Office will automatically be mailed an Absentee Ballot.

Board Meetings:  The Board of Education is a public body and, as such, the Open Meetings Law requires school board meetings where school district business will be discussed to be open to the public; however, the public may be excluded from properly convened executive sessions and other meetings exempted under the law.

The Board has a policy of allowing members of the public to address them regarding school district business (time limited to 5 mins) as long as the discussion does not involve matters involving privacy issues that are protected by law.

Members of the public are welcomed and encouraged to attend and observe open meetings.  The Board of Education meetings are posted on the district’s website under the School Board/Board Meetings link).

Meetings are held the third Tuesdayof every month at 7:00 PM in the 3rd Floor Board Room, Columbus School, 164 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY.  However, on occasion, it is necessary to change the date or call a special meeting so please check with the District Clerk (762-8100 ext. 319) to verify when such meetings will be held.

Board Representatives to School:  Although the Board of Education represents the entire district, individual members also act as representatives to each school.  Board Members can visit their assigned school(s), attend concerts, plays and other school-related activities as often as possible.

Clerk to the Board:

Sanya Brown

Binghamton City School District

164 Hawley Street – P.O. Box 2126

Binghamton, NY 13902-2126

Phone:  607-762-8100 ext. 319

Hours:  8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Email: browns@binghamtonschools.org