A total of 21 school board positions are up for election across Chenango County’s nice school districts this year. Petitions are currently available for qualified candidates interested in running for those seats.

Prospective board members must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of the district they wish to serve, qualified to vote in the district and be able to read and write. In general, they cannot be employed by the Board on which they wish to serve; reside in the same household with a family member who is also a member of the same school board; cannot have been removed from any district office within the preceding year; nor can they simultaneously hold another incompatible public office. Residency requirements vary by district.

Information on the positions opening, as well as petition and residency requirements are listed for each of Chenango County’s nine districts below. In order to appear on the May 17 ballot, individuals must complete a petition with the required number of signatures by the stated deadline.

The terms of the current school board members listed are due to expire on June 30.

Afton

In Afton, two board of education seats are up for grabs - one for a 5-year term and the other to fill out the remaining 2 years of the term of a board member who resigned. The first is occupied by Richard Rogler, who has served on the board for 10 years. The second is currently filled by Duane Phillips, who was appointed last year to fill the vacancy created by John Masse’s resignation. While Phillips has declared his candidacy, Rogler has not yet announced whether he intends to seek a third term.

Interested candidates may pick up a petition at between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the District Office, 29 Academy Street in Afton. Petitions must have a minimum of 25 signatures and be returned on or before April 18. Prospective board members must be residents of the district for a minimum of one year prior to the election.

Those with questions may contact the district office at 639-8200.

Bainbridge-Guilford

This year, the Bainbridge-Guilford board of education will have two vacancies for three-year terms. Those seats are currently occupied by Howard Lockhart and Jeanne Shields. Neither has officially declared their intentions for the upcoming election.

Interested candidates may pick up a petition at the District Office, 18 Juliand Street in Bainbridge. Petitions must have a minimum of 25 signatures of district residents and be returned by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 18. Prospective board members must be residents of the district for a minimum of one continuous year prior to the election.

For more information, contact the District Office at 967-6321

Gilberstville-Mt. Upton

This year, G-MU will have three vacancies on the district’s board of education; all of which are 3-year terms. The seats are currently held by Board President Gerald Theis, Board Member Harold Button and Zachary Proskine, who was appointed to fill a vacancy last year. All three intend to be on the ballot in May.

Interested candidates may pick up a petition at the District/Main Office, 693 State Highway 51 in Gilbertsville. Petitions must have a minimum of 25 signatures of district residents and be returned by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 18. Prospective board members must be residents of the district for at least 30 days prior to the election.

For more information, contact the district office at 783-2207, ext. 140.

Greene

Greene will have two board of education vacancies to fill in the upcoming election. Each is a three-year term. The seats which will expire June 30 are currently held by William Cline and Timothy Crumb. Both have announced their intention to seek re-election.

Petitions may be obtained by contacting the district clerk at 656-4161, ext. 224 or the district office at 656-4161, ext. 214. Completed petitions require at least 25 qualified signatures, and must be returned by 5 p.m. on April 18.

Questions should be directed to either the district clerk or district office.

Norwich

The Norwich City Schools has two vacancies on the district’s school board. All are for 3-year terms. They are currently occupied by Tom Morrone and Priscilla Johnson. Morrone has indicated he plans to seek re-election; Johnson has yet to declare.

Interested candidates can obtain a petition at the District Office, 89 Midland Drive, Norwich. Petitions require a minimum of 100 signatures of district residents, and must be returned on or before April 27. Prospective board members must be residents of the district for a minimum of one continuous year prior to the election, and can not hold any city office with the exception of police or fire.

Questions should be directed to Pam Salvati at 334-1600, ext. 5506. Information is also posted to the district’s website, www.norwichcsd.org.

Otselic Valley

This year, the Otselic Valley Central Schools Board of Education will have one vacancy for a 5-year term. The seat is currently occupied by Board President David Cruikshank. Cruikshank, who has served the district for 6 years, is seeking re-election.

Petitions may be obtained by contacting District Clerk Gail Burpee at (315) 653-4003. Petitions require 25 signatures and must be returned by 5 p.m. on April 18.

Oxford

The Oxford Academy and Central Schools board of education will have two vacancies, both for 3-year terms. The seats are currently occupied by Mary Branham and Gene Rood. Both have indicated they plan to seek re-election.

Interested candidates may pick up a petition at the District Office, located in the Oxford Middle School, Fort Hill Park in Oxford. Petitions must have a minimum of 25 qualified signatures and be returned by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 18. Prospective board members must be residents of the district for a minimum of one continuous year prior to the election.

For more information, contact the District Office at 843-2025.

Sherburne-Earlville

Three seats on the seven-member Sherburne-Earlville School District Board of Education will expire this year. All three positions are for three-year terms. The seats are currently held by John Brown, Steve Harris and Sue Osborne. Brown and Harris are not running for re-election.

Petitions are available at the district office, 15 School Street in Sherburne. They require 25 signatures and must be returned to the district clerk by 5 p.m. April 18. For more information, call the District Office at 674-7300.

Unadilla Valley

The Unadilla Valley Central School District will have four vacancies this year - three of which are for 3-year terms, one for a 2-year term. The full term seats are currently occupied by Victoria Gregory, William Lyons and John Elliott. The remaining seat is held by Sandra Cooper, who was appointed to fill a vacancy last year.

None of the incumbents have officially announced their intentions regarding the upcoming election.

Petitions may be obtained at the district office, 4238 State Hwy. 8 in New Berlin. Completed petitions require at least 25 qualified signatures, and must be returned by 5 p.m. on April 18. Candidates must be residents of the district for a minimum of one year prior to the election.

For more information, contact the district office at 847-7500, ext. 1131.

– Melissa deCordova and Brian Golden contributed to this article.