Qualifying Underway For School Slots In Water Valley, Coffeeville

WATER VALLEY – The qualifying period is underway for school board elections in the Water Valley School District and the Coffeeville School District, with one seat in each district on the November ballot.

Each school district is divided into five geographic subdistricts, and one trustee is elected from each subdistrict to serve on the board. Trustees serve staggered five-year terms, meaning one seat from each district is typically up for election each year.

Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney said the District 4 position is open in both school districts this year. In Water Valley, the seat is currently held by Kathryn York.

School board members play a key role in setting policy for their districts, adopting budgets, and overseeing the superintendent. They also help shape curriculum standards and make decisions that directly affect student programs and staffing.

To qualify, candidates must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the subdistrict they seek to represent, and a registered voter. School board elections in Mississippi are nonpartisan. Voters can check which subdistrict they live in by contacting the circuit clerk’s office.

The deadline to qualify is Thursday, Aug. 21. Candidates can pick up qualifying forms at the circuit clerk’s offices in the Coffeeville or Water Valley courthouses, or download them from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website.

The election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4, with the winners beginning their five-year terms on Jan. 1.