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TIPS ON FILING FOR THE 2027 �SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION��DUPAGE HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 88�SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE WORKSHOP�October 27, 2026��

Presented by:

John M. Izzo

Eric B. Bernard

Petrarca, Gleason, Boyle & Izzo, LLC

Office (630) 796-2086

Email: jizzo@petrarcagleason.com

ebernard@petrarcagleason.com

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I. SOURCES FOR ASSISTANCE

A. ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

1. Website: www.elections.il.gov

2. Telephone: (217) 782-4141; (312) 814-6440

B. DUPAGE COUNTY CLERK ELECTION DIVISION

1. Website: https://www.dupagecounty.gov/elected_officials/election_and_voter_information/

2. Webpage for school board packet:

School Board District (Format 2)

3. Telephone: (630) 407-6500

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II. THE BASICS

A. WHO: OFFICE QUALIFICATIONS

1. U.S. Citizen

2. Resident for at least one year

3. Registered Voter

4. At least 18 years of age

5. Not a school trustee, but other incompatible offices?

6. Not convicted child sex offender, “infamous crimes.”

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II. THE BASICS – cont.

B. WHAT: DOCUMENTS NEEDED

1. Petition Sheets – SBE Form P-7

2. Statement of Candidacy – SBE Form P-1A

3. Receipt for Statement of Economic Interests

- Must have previously filed paper copy of the Statement of Economic Interests with the DuPage County Clerk’s Office.

- The “receipt” of that filing must be filed with

the Petition

4. Loyalty Oath (optional) – SBE Form P-1C

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II. THE BASICS – cont.

C. WHERE: COUNTY CLERK ELECTION DIVISION OFFICE

421 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton,

First Day Only: Possibly additional space in Knuepfer Building

Mail in: Accepted only if received during filing period

Not Accepted: By fax or electronic

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II. THE BASICS – cont.

D. WHEN: FILING TIMES

1. November 16, 2026 through November 23, 2026 (Not more than 141 nor less than 134 days prior to the Consolidated Election)

2. Office open until 5:00 p.m. last day; 8:00-4:30 other days (check county regular office hours)

3. Filing order determines ballot order

those received in mail in first day also deemed simultaneous with those filed on opening of office
those received in mail on later day deemed filed on actual receipt
ballot order of simultaneous filing for first day resolved by lottery
those in line at beginning of office hours (or 8:00 a.m.) considered simultaneous
those filing in last hour of last day will also be resolved by lottery

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II. THE BASICS – cont.

E. HOW MANY

1. Minimum signature requirements for school boards: 50

(10% of voters or 50, whichever is less)

2. Tip: get more than minimum!

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III. COMMON ISSUES

A. CANDIDATE’S NAME

1. Nicknames acceptable

2. Political slogans, titles or degrees not permitted

3. If name has changed within last 3 years, name must be followed by “formerly known as (list all prior names during 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of name change).”

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

B. TITLE OF OFFICE

1. Correct name of school district

2. Correct title of office

3. Full term or vacancy

4. Election, not nomination

5. Consistency between candidacy and petition sheets

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

C. STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY

1. Name as on ballot

2. Proper address

3. Proper title of office

4. Proper Notarization

witness signature

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

D. VALIDITY OF SIGNATURES

1. “In their own proper person”: no Mom & Pop

2. Printed signatures: consistent with registration

3. Illegible signatures

4. Nonregistered voter

5. Wrong address

6. Incomplete address

7. Out-of-district signers

8. Duplicate signatures on same petitions

9. Signing for opposing candidates

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

E. DATES OF CIRCULATION

1. Beginning August 25, 2026 (no earlier than 90 days before petitions due)

2. Dates, range of dates, or certificate of compliance with

90-day rule must be stated

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

F. METHOD OF CIRCULATION

1. Signed in circulator’s presence

2. Pattern of fraud doctrine

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

G. CIRCULATOR QUALIFICATIONS

1. Need not be registered voter in district

2. Candidate permissible

3. Circulator for different candidates permissible, up to number of positions open

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

H. CIRCULATOR’S AFFIDAVIT

1. Presence of circulator before notary

2. Qualified notary?

3. Jurat form

4. Circulator cannot notarize own signature

5. Candidate may notarize

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

I. ASSEMBLING PAPERS

1. Numbering of petition sheets

2. No photocopies

3. In book form, fastened at one edge by secure means, not pasted

4. All papers simultaneously, except maybe receipt for statement of economic interest

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III. COMMON ISSUES – cont.

J. STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST

1. File with county clerk and get receipt

2. County clerk of county of district, not of candidate’s residence

3. File in current year (2026)

4. Receipt filed with petitions, not statement itself

5. May be filed separate, but with same deadline

6. Incumbents file once per year

7. File separate statements for different governmental units

8. Though law allows, DuPage does not accept electronic filing

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IV. ELECTION SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 1, 2025, CONSOLIDATED ELECTION

August 25, 2026 First day to circulate candidate’s nomination papers.

November 16, 2026 First day to file candidate’s nomination papers with County Clerk.

November 23, 2026 Last day to file candidate’s nomination papers with County Clerk.

December 2, 2026 Last day to file objections to candidate’s nomination papers.

December 2, 2026 Last day on which candidates who have filed for 2 or more incompatible offices can file withdrawal of candidacy for all but one office with County Clerk.

December 2, 2026 Last day for County Clerk to hold lottery for ballot position.

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IV. TENTATIVE ELECTION SCHEDULE FOR �APRIL 1, 2025, CONSOLIDATED ELECTION – cont.

January 28, 2027 Last day to file withdrawal of candidacy with county election authority.

February 4, 2027 Last day for write-in candidates to file notarized declaration of intent with county election authority.

April 6, 2027 Consolidated Election.

April 27, 2027 Last day for county clerk to canvass results and proclaim winners.

May 17, 2027 Last day for new board members to be seated on the board

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Role of the School Board

1:10 School District Legal Status

The Illinois Constitution requires the State to provide for an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services in order to achieve the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capabilities. �
The General Assembly has implemented this mandate through the creation of school districts. The District is governed by the laws for school districts having a population of not fewer than 1,000 and not more than 500,000. �
The School Board constitutes a body corporate that possesses all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes, and in that name may sue and be sued, purchase, hold and sell personal property and real estate, and enter into such obligations as are authorized by law.

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Role of a School Board Member

Understands the first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all students attending the public schools.
Understands the Board sets the standards for the district through Board policy.
Board members do not manage the district on a day-to-day basis. Board members determine the “what.” Administration determines the “how” and “who.”
Understands the Board makes decisions as a team. Individual Board members may not commit the Board to any action.

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Goals of a School Board Member

Commits to the development of educational programs that meet the individual needs of every student, regardless of ability, race, sex, creed, social standing or disability.

Directs the work of the superintendent related to the development of procedures for the regular and systematic evaluation of programs, staff performance and School Board operations to ensure progress toward educational and fiscal goals.

Oversees the development of effective School Board policies, which provide direction for the operation of the schools and delegate authority to the Superintendent for their implementation.

Authorizes the development of systematic communications that ensure the School Board, administration, staff, students and community are fully informed, and the staff understands the community’s aspirations for its schools.

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Board Committees

The School Board creates Board committees as the Board deems necessary. The Board President makes all Board committee appointments, unless specifically stated otherwise.

District 88 Board of Education commitments:

Board meetings (about 20 a year)
Closed session meetings (about 17 a year)
Committee meetings (about 75 a year)
Events (invited to school events each week; three-day conference in November each year)

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Special Assignment Committees

Citizens Advisory Council
Community Intergovernmental groups
Legislative Educational Network of DuPage
SASED Alternate
Board Scholarships Selection
Summer Purchases
IASB Governing Board Representative
D88 Foundation Committee

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Standing Board Committees

Behavioral Interventions
Buildings and Grounds
Curriculum Council
Evaluation and Compensation
Finance Committee
Negotiations Committee
Policy Committee
Wellness/Employee Recognition

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My Contact Information

Dr. Jean Barbanente

Jbarbanente@dupage88.net

630-530-3990 or cell 630-677-1774

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