UPDATED: Dexter School Board Considers Move to Six-Year Terms

Editor's note: This story has been updated to accurately reflect the election years for Board of Education members under their current four-year term.

The Dexter Community Schools Board of Education is considering a switch to six-year terms as a result of a new election law signed by Gov. Rick Snyder.

Snyder signed Senate Bill 427 and House Bill 4005 in November 2011, which standardize school board elections across the state. The law requires school districts to hold elections during the general elections in November of even-numbered years.

Previously, school districts were allowed to hold elections independently of state and national elections. The change is expected to save some school districts upward of $8 million over a two-year election cycle according to the governor's office.

Larry Cobler, president of the Board of Education, said switching from four-year terms to six-year terms would provide better leadership stability in the district.

"School board stability has an impact on superintendent stability, which can influence student achievement in our schools," he said. "Every school board in Michigan is confronting these same issues."

If board elections remain unchanged, Cobler said three board seats would be up for election in November 2014 and four seats in November 2016.

Cobler said the decision to change has some parents concerned over term lengths.

"There has been some misunderstanding that six-year terms will limit the pool of candidates who want to run for a board position," he said. "When you look at the makeup of our current board, most have been serving for longer than six years, so we don't think six years will be that significant in terms of qualified candidates seeking election."

Other parents have voiced concern that the board will be able to appoint replacements for members who resign before their term expires.

"Whether we have four year or six year terms, a temporary replacement is appointed by the board until the next possible election, when the appointed person is replaced by a candidate chosen by the electorate," Cobler said.

As far as monetary savings — which could save some districts in Michigan upward of $8 million — Cobler said the board preferred separate elections despite the cost, in favor of not overcrowding the ballot.

"There is a problem of voter fatigue that we're concerned about. In the past, we favored having elections in May, seperate from the general election, in order to give voters more opportunity to focus on the school board. Now we don't have a choice," he said.

Sharon Raschke, chief financial officer for the district, said the cost associated with running seperate elections prior to the new legislation varied.

"We're supposed to pay the incremental cost of the the election so it depends on what else might be on a ballot (library millages, etc.)," she said.

For instance, by piggybacking a school board election with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District millage election in October 2011, the district paid $4,196. In September 2010, the district held a seperate school board election and paid $10,989. In July 2008, the district held a combined bond and school board election at a cost of $15,090.

The school board is expected to make a decision on term changes at its April meeting. Parents can submit feedback about the change online, or contact members of the Board of Education directly.