What is the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC)?
The SBNC is a volunteer committee whose members are elected from within each of the eight neighborhoods in Edgemont. The SBNC is sponsored by the ECC.
What is the Purpose of the SBNC?
The purpose of the SBNC is to encourage qualified residents to come forward as candidates for the Board of Education; to interview such candidates and to endorse those individuals who in the Committee’s judgment can best serve the needs of the school district; and finally, to let the public know who they have endorsed.
When was the the SBNC First Established?
The SBNC rules were first adopted in written form in 1958. However, as early as 1935 and prior to the adoption of the 1958 Rules, the presidents of the community organizations met to fill vacancies on the School Board.
How is the SBNC Comprised?
The School Board Nominating Committee is constituted by a process that is based on community participation. In December of each year, the SBNC, under the auspices of ECC, sends two letters to every Edgemont household. One letter invites residents to submit nominations for the Board of Education; the second letter invites residents to submit nominations for representatives to the SBNC to the ECC Nominating Committee. These nominees are then elected as members of the SBNC at an annual meeting of the ECC.
The SBNC is comprised of 3 voting representatives from each of the 8 neighborhoods in Edgemont plus a representative from the Edgemont High School student body, which results in a total of 25 voting members. A voting member may serve up to two consecutive years on the SBNC. After that, the member may not serve again until a period of three years has passed from his/her last date of service.
Who Can Serve on the SBNC?
To qualify for membership on the SBNC a person
– Shall be a resident of the school district for at least three years at the date of their election to the SBNC
– Shall not be the spouse, parent, sibling, child, sibling of a parent, or child of a sibling of a current member of the school board
– Shall not be the spouse, parent, sibling, child, sibling of a parent, or child of a sibling of a current member of the SBNC
– Shall not have served on the SBNC within the last three years
How Does the SBNC Process Work?
The SBNC begins meeting in October to begin the recruitment process. The Committee is briefed by a current or previous member of the Board of Education. Members are required to attend a minimum of three Board of Education meetings; many attend more. In December, the SBNC sends a letter to the community inviting nominations for the Board of Education, and providing notice of the date, time and place of the Open Meeting in January to announce nominations for the Board of Education. After the January Open Meeting interview meetings with the candidates are scheduled. The interviews take place in March and are private. Endorsements are made in March at the completion of the interview schedule. The SBNC announces the Endorsed Candidates. A Candidates Forum is held in April, and the election is held in May.
Do I Have a Chance to Evaluate the Candidates?
Yes. Each year in April, the SBNC holds a Candidates Forum. The Candidates Forum is the candidates’ opportunity to present to the community so that voters can make their own determination about the candidates. Every candidate running for election to the Board of Education is invited to participate. The Candidates Forum is a question and answer format moderated by the Chair of the SBNC. The Chair solicits questions from the community by notice in The Scarsdale Inquirer. Residents submit questions in advance that they would like to see asked of the candidates. Questions from the audience are not permitted at the Candidates Forum.
What If Someone is Not Endorsed?
There is an underlying assumption in the nominating committee process that all candidates are qualified, which is why there is no stigma associated with not being endorsed. The SBNC endorses candidates who in its judgment will best serve the needs of the school district at the present time.
Why Have a Nominating Process?
A nominating process achieves several things: first, it provides a process for recruiting and recommending qualified residents to serve on the School Board; two, it discourages political contests and one-issue candidates; and three, it makes contested elections, which generally are divisive, less likely.
No system is perfect, but on the whole Edgemont’s nominating process has resulted in excellent leadership for the district. Alden Larson, Edgemont Superintendent from 1966 to 1982, noted that “The SBNC seemed to be very effective and efficient for the process of screening candidates.” Maintaining a strong nominating system should continue to ensure a rigorous and thoughtful process for selecting qualified residents to serve as School Board members.