School elections are coming up and people wishing to serve on a school board have until March 24 to file paperwork.

Prospective candidates may obtain and file nomination petitions and oaths of candidacy from their respective school districts.

Candidates must be registered voters who have lived in the school district they wish to serve for at least a year.

Trustee elections will be May 3. If the number of candidates after April 10 is equal to or less than the number of openings on a school board, districts may cancel elections and qualified candidates will be seated by acclamation.

Being a trustee is a volunteer position. Trustees are responsible for making decisions that impact how schools operate.

Duties may include setting goals, adopting policies and budgets, managing the collective bargaining process and holding schools accountable.

In Bigfork, Columbia Falls and Kalispell, trustees represent either the elementary or high school district. Elementary trustees vote on both elementary and high school issues. High school trustees vote only on high school issues.

Following is a list of openings in each district and locations to file paperwork:

•  Bigfork has two three-year terms in the elementary district open. File paperwork at the district office located 600 Commerce St., Bigfork. For more information call 837-7402.

•  One three-year term is available at Cayuse Prairie. File paperwork at the district clerk’s office, 897 Lake Blaine Road. For more information call 756-4560.

•  Columbia Falls has two positions representing the elementary district up for election. The other seat is in the high school district. File paperwork at 501 Sixth Ave. W., Columbia Falls. For more information call 892-6550.

•  Two seats with three-year terms are open at Creston. Paperwork may be filed at the school office, 4495 Montana 35. For more information call 755-2859.

•  A one-year term is up for election at Deer Park . File paperwork at the school located at 2105 Middle Road. For more information call 892-5388.

n Evergreen has two three-year terms open. Filed paperwork at the district office, 18 W. Evergreen Dr. For more information call 751-1111.

•  There are two three-year terms and a one-year term up for election at Fair-Mont-Egan. File paperwork at the school located at 797 Fairmont Road. For more information call 755-2038.
•  Flathead Valley Community College has three seats open — two with three-year terms and the other for a one-year term. For more information call 756-3801.
•  Helena Flats has one opening on the board for a three-year term. File paperwork at the district office, 1000 Helena Flats Road. For more information call 257-2301.

•  There are four openings Kalispell. Two three-year terms and one two-year term are available in the elementary district. One seat with a three-year term, representing Swan River, is open in the high school district. File paperwork at 233 First Ave. E. For more information call 751-3412.

•  Kila has two seats with three-year terms open. File paperwork at 395 Kila Rd. For more information call 257-2428.

•  Two positions are available in Marion, both with three-year terms. File paperwork at the school, 205 Gopher Lane. For more information call 854-2333.

•  Olney-Bissell has two trustee positions for three-year terms open. File paperwork at the school, 5955 Farm to Market Road. For more information call 862-2828.

•  One seat with a three-year term is available at Pleasant Valley. File paperwork at the school, 7975 Pleasant Valley Road. For more information call 858-2343.

•  Smith Valley has two positions open. Both are for three-year terms. File paperwork at the office located at 2901 U.S. 2 West. For more information call 756-4535.

•  Two trustee positions with three-year terms are up for election in Somers-Lakeside. File paperwork with the district clerk at 315 School Addition Road in Somers. For more information call 857-3661.

•  One three-year term is up for election at Swan River. File paperwork at the school, 1205 Swan Highway. For more information call 837-4528.

•  West Glacier has one three-year term open. File paperwork at 160 Old River Bridge Road. For more information call 888-5312.

•  Two seats are open in West Valley. Both are for three-year terms. File paperwork at the school at 2290 Farm to Market Road. For more information call 755-7239.

•  Whitefish has three seats up for election. Two seats are for three-year terms and the other, a two-year term. File paperwork at the district office, 600 E. Second St., Whitefish. For more information call 862-8643.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.