School Board Elections

School board elections are held during the Consolidated Election on the first Tuesday of April in odd-numbered years. The next consolidated election will take place on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Typically, governing school boards consist of seven members, each elected to serve a four-year term. These terms are staggered, so three or four seats are up for election at each biennial election. In the upcoming election, there will be five open positions on the Avoca Board of Education

Interested in School Board Service? 

Consider the following points on school board service: qualifications, the "job" description, reasons for serving, characteristics of effective school board members, and preparation for service on the school board.

Getting Started as a Candidate 

Starting August 20, candidates can begin circulating nominating petitions to gather signatures. The necessary forms are on page 52 of the 2025 Candidates' Guide, available from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Filing Petitions
: The filing period begins on Tuesday, November 12, and ends on Monday, November 18, 2024. Be sure to submit your petitions to the local county clerk's office during this time. This year's filing period is earlier than in previous elections due to a change in election law (Public Act 103-600).

Helpful Resources for Candidates 

To support candidates, the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) offers key dates and information on running for school board on their website. Additionally, IASB is hosting a series of webinars designed to guide you through the process of running for school board. These webinars are live-streamed and open to both IASB members and the public. The first webinar in the series will be held on September 12 at noon, focusing on petition circulation

2025 Candidate’s Guide and the 2025 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar

Information for Candidates
Key Dates For Candidates—2025 Consolidated Election

Responsibilities and Duties of a Board Member
The Functions of Boards of Education

Election Dates