The filing period for affidavits of candidacy for the office of school board member of Independent School District No. 861 begins on Tuesday, May 19 and closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.

Click here for the filing materials.

The primary election, if required based on the number of candidates, will be held on Aug. 11, 2020. The general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Three members will be elected to the school board for terms of four years each. The districts up for election this year are District 3, District 4 and District 5. A district map is available here.

Affidavits of candidacy are available for pick-up in the Winona Senior High School front entrance vestibule during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Monday through Friday until Monday, June 1. On Tuesday, June 2, available hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Candidate materials will also be available here beginning Monday, May 18. 

Materials can be dropped off at the high school office window located just inside the high school front doors, or mailed to Attn: Kacie Lovas, Winona Area Public Schools District Office, 903 Gilmore Ave., Winona, MN, 55987. WAPS is strongly encouraging candidates to mail in their candidacy materials. For assistance in notarizing the affidavit, please contact Kacie Lovas, 507-494-0861, to schedule an appointment.

The filing fee for office is $2, and checks can be made payable to Winona Area Public Schools. A candidate for this office must be an eligible voter, must be 21 years of age or more on assuming office, must have been a resident of the district they wish to represent for 30 days before the general election, must have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the same primary or next ensuing general election, and must not have been convicted of an offense for which registration is required by state law.

The affidavit must be filed and filing fee paid before 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2.

As the entity legally charged with governing a school district, each school board is responsible to its community to govern efficiently and effectively. This obligation imposes some fundamental duties on the board.

-Minnesota School Boards Association's Standards for School Board Leadership

Winona Area Public Schools, Winona, MN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, marital status, and familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, disability, or sex in its programs and activities. The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES/SECTION 504 COORDINATOR
(This school district has a grievance procedure to resolve complaints of discrimination
under Section 504 or A.D.A. Contact the 502 Coordinator regarding this procedure.)

HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER

TITLE IX COORDINATOR
(Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.")

If the complaint is against any of the personnel listed above, the alternate contact for any position listed is Annette Freiheit or Emily Solheid.

The Winona Area Public School District does not tolerate acts of harassment, including acts of harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, marital status, and familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, disability or sex. Any student who believes he or she has been subjected to harassment or a hostile environment based on disability, sex or any other protected status shall immediately report the harassment or hostile environment to the District. The District is committed to conducting a prompt investigation. Students found to have engaged in acts of harassment or other acts that create a hostile environment based on disability, sex or any other protected status will be promptly disciplined pursuant to the school’s discipline policy. Such discipline may include, if circumstances warrant, suspension and expulsion. The Winona Area Public School District encourages students, parents and district staff to work together to prevent acts of harassment of any kind.