

We have compiled a list of questions that
people often ask regarding the Selection Committee. After you review the list,
if you still cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us.
Q: What does the Selection Committee do?
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Reaches out to the community to seek qualified
individuals to run for the School Board.
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Interviews individuals who express interest
in serving on the School Board
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Evaluates candidates against a consistent
set of qualifications including integrity, leadership, consensus building/decision
making skills, communication skills, knowledge of issues impacting our district,
etc.
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Endorses candidates for the School Board.
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Attends School Board meetings, meets with
School Board members and other education experts to more fully understand
the state of the Mamaroneck School Board and the Mamaroneck School District.
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Q: How are members of the Selection Committee
elected?
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To be eligible to run for election to the
Selection Committee, a candidate must be at least 18 years old, and a U.S.
citizen residing in the school district.
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Two members from each of the 4 elementary
school district are elected each year. Total membership at all times is
24 members.
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Members serve 1 three-year term.
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Candidate names are placed on a ballot in
the candidate's elementary school district.
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The election for Selection Committee candidates
is held the same day as the school budget vote, which is usually the 3rd
Tuesday in May.
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Applications are available from the Selection
Committee Chairperson, or the Selection Committee Web site: selectioncommittee.org
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Q: What does the Selection Committee do to
make sure the public is informed and aware of its activities?
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Holds a widely-publicized Open Meeting in
January to attract interested candidates. Press releases are placed in local
print and online newspapers, elementary and secondary school newsletters,
as well as on the local cable access station. Flyers are posted in prominent
locations throughout the Larchmont/Mamaroneck business districts.
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Submits press releases throughout the year
to local newspapers informing the public of its meetings and election results.
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Sends out a mailing to voters 2 weeks prior
to the School Board election with biographies of the School Board members
up for re-election or election.
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Publicizes open positions to the Selection
Committee in local print and online newspapers, as well as in elementary
and secondary school newsletters.
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Provides bios of newly elected Selection
Committee members in above-mentioned venues.
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Televises the introduction of endorsed candidates
on LMC-TV.
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Directs the community to its Web site (selectioncommittee.org)
for important information.
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Q: How does the Selection Committee identify
potential candidates for the School Board?
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Any individual who submits an application
is interviewed by the Selection Committee.
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The Selection Committee members suggest,
contact and evaluate individuals whom they think may be qualified candidates
to run for the School Board.
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Q: What process is used by the Selection
Committee to endorse a candidate?
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Each member of the Committee reviews an
applicant's application and the comments made by the applicant's references.
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The applicant is interviewed with the full
Committee in attendance.
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The Committee votes on each candidate in
a confidential vote.
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The candidate with the highest vote tally
is endorsed.
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Q: Who can run for the position of School
Board?
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Q: Do incumbent School Board members automatically
get endorsed by the School Board if they are up for re-election?
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No. The Committee will endorse the most
highly qualified candidate, without regard to incumbency status.
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Selection Committee members regularly attend
in person or watch School Board meetings on LMC-TV throughout the year to
assess the performance of current School Board members.
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Q: Why does the Selection Committee usually
endorse only one candidate for each open spot on the School Board?
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The Committee invests a considerable amount
of time learning about the skills, experience and qualities that define
an effective School Board Member.
When a candidate possesses those qualities to a greater degree than any
other candidate who comes before the Committee, then that candidate is the
obvious choice for endorsement.
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The Committee is not seeking candidates
based on their position on specific issues, therefore there is no need for
multiple candidates.
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The role of the Selection Committee is to
evaluate all potential candidates, and present the most highly qualified
candidate to the community for election.
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By presenting more than one candidate, the
Selection Committee would be turning a serious election into a popularity
contest; and the best candidate may not always be victorious.
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The Selection Committee would not be fulfilling
its mission if it selected multiple candidates.
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Q: Can a candidate who isn't endorsed by
the Selection Committee run for a seat on the School Board?
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Absolutely. Any interested candidate who
completes the legal requirements can run for the School Board.
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ALL candidates, even those who are endorsed,
must request an application from the District Clerk and return it no later
than 30 days before the school budget vote.
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ALL candidates, must also return a petition
that includes the signatures of a legally set number of voters in the district.
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Q: Why are candidates not selected by a political
party?
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The political party process of issues-based
debate and campaigning is not the best method for identifying qualified
School Board candidates, since those candidates are selected for their knowledge
of education issues, decision-making skills; and abilities as consensus-builders,
team players, careful listeners, among other worthy qualifications, and
not because of their stance on a single issue.
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The majority of past and present School
Board members has confirmed its appreciation to the Selection Committee
for taking a pivotal role in carefully evaluating and then presenting new
candidates to the community.
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Q: Why isn't the election to School Board
an issues-based election?
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Because the Board deals with a broad range
of issues affecting many aspects of public education.
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There is no way to pre-determine what particular
issues the School Board may have to face in any given year.
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Q: Does having the Selection Committee nominate
candidates reduce my ability to make my own judgments regarding potential
candidates?