In a move seeking to align school board elections with general legislative cycles, the House Elections and Ethics Committee has given the green light to House Bill 1151. The legislation, pushed forward by Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, aims to shift the Oklahoma school board elections from their current slots in February and April to the more populous turnout months of June and November, as reported by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
The logic behind the pivot, as articulated by Rep. Banning, is not just about voter turnout; it's a fiscally-driven decision too. According to a statement obtained by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the cost of running school board elections in 2023 hit the $16.8 million mark. This is a stretch of taxpayer dollars that Banning believes could be rerouted back into directly supporting education. And with the previous year's Union Public Schools Board election for Zone 4 attracting a meager 146 voters, the need for change seems prudent.
HB1151 does more than just change dates. It sets a uniform four-year term for both elementary and independent district boards. This is part of Banning's larger goal to make sure elected officials truly represent the voices of an active and engaged community.
Despite a similar bill floundering in the past—House Bill 3563 never made it past the committee last year—optimism is in the air for HB1151's future. Following its committee approval, the bill is now poised to advance to the House Government Oversight Committee. "Aligning school board elections with legislative cycles makes sense for taxpayers and voters," Banning asserted in his reasons for championing such reforms, as per the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
And while the change has its eyes set on future elections, the immediate effects would be seen in logistical and financial facets. School districts, currently shouldering the expenses of elections, stand to gain from cost savings as their burden eases. HB1151 is being monitored closely as it moves deeper into legislative territory, and many are watching to see if it will finally make its way onto the House floor for a full vote.
