Two spots will be available on the Steamboat Springs School Board in November. Board members invited members of the public to a luncheon at district offices Thursday, to answer any questions they might have on what it’s like to be on the school board. Here’s Board Member Chresta Brinkman.

Brinkman’s seat is one of the positions open and she says she is almost certain she’ll be running again. Katie Lee’s term expires and she confirmed that she will be running. The school board positions are unpaid and non-partisan. You must be a registered voter and live somewhere within the school district. Both terms are for four years. The top two vote getters of all who are running are the ones who will be elected. There are two school board meetings a month. Katie Lee estimated it takes about five hours of prep time for each meeting. During COVID, Board President Kelly Latterman estimated she had some 60-hour weeks because of the pandemic. The Colorado Association of School Boards website says to expect about 10 hours a week or 45 hours a month. Board members have meetings, work on correspondence and communication, do prep work, and have workshops.

To start the process, pick up a petition in the district office on Aug. 4. You need to get 50 verified signatures by Aug. 27. It’s recommended that you get double that just to make sure you have enough.

School starts Aug. 23 in Steamboat. About 2,600 students are registered with around 400 employees in seven schools.

Board members also referred to the website for the Colorado Association of School Boards, which has a lot of information on serving on a school board.