School Board Responsibilities
Thank you for your interest in learning more about how school board elections function. It is a great privilege and honor to be elected to the Board of Education and serve our community's local public schools. The school board works with the Superintendent, administrators, teachers, and other staff to develop strong educational programming to benefit students, families, and our community!
While community members have the opportunity to voice their thoughts, concerns, and provide suggestions to enhance local schools, elected board members have the additional privilege and responsibility of becoming intricately involved in the decision-making process that drives initiatives of the organization.
Working with fellow Board members, the following are some responsibilities of the Board:
- Policies set and approved for the administration to follow
- Adopts academic standards for pupils and establishes expectations for education in the District and monitors student achievement
- Hires and evaluates the Superintendent
- Sets the annual District budget
- Approves and updates the District Strategic Plan
- Advocates for students and the WRPS organization
- Stays abreast of changes in education through professional growth and development opportunities
With local authority and control, the Board is tasked with being responsive and flexible to community needs. While individual Board members generally have no more power or authority than any other citizen in the District, when the individuals are meeting as a Board they make decisions which impact the District.
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Qualities of a School Board Member
The Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) has developed a listing of the numerous qualifications and qualities that experienced board members have indicated are important for effective school board membership. These include:
- A commitment to the belief that all children of the school district are entitled to have available to them a beneficial educational program
- An open mind and readiness to learn
- A willingness to attend seminars and workshops which can help them make intelligent decisions in school affairs
- A vision and an ability to understand changes in our society
- The ability to act with other school board members to advance the best interests of the school district
- The capability to articulate the philosophy and goals of the school and to listen carefully to the criticisms offered by people with differing views
- A willingness to invest the hours that will be necessary to faithfully discharge their duties
- Freedom from conflict with any other interest
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Legal Qualifications for Becoming a School Board Member
The legal qualifications to be a school board member include:
- Must be a citizen of the United States;
- 18 years of age or older;
- Be a resident of the District for at least 28 consecutive days at the time of filing a declaration of candidacy;
- Have no disqualifying prior criminal convictions.
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Process to be Elected to School Board
The process to become elected to the Board of Education includes the following:
These forms can be downloaded to complete and must be returned to Christine Wefel, Board Secretary, at the Board of Education Office located at 510 Peach Street in Wisconsin Rapids on or before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. You can also choose to download or pick up a candidate packet directly from Christine at the Board office which contains the necessary forms. Once all paperwork is submitted properly, you are registered to appear on the spring election ballot. You are not required to circulate nomination papers to run for the School District of Wisconsin Rapids Board of Education.
The School Board shall require a primary election if there are more than twice as many candidates as there are members to be elected. The spring primary election is held on the third Tuesday in February. If a primary election is not needed, the spring election is held on the first Tuesday in April.
Once the election concludes, the results are certified by a Board of Canvassers and the School District Clerk promptly issues a certificate of election to each person elected to office. Newly elected school board members take and file the Official Oath of Office on or prior to the fourth Monday in April, and are officially seated on the fourth Monday in April at the Board organization meeting.
If you have questions about the process, forms to be completed, or need additional information, please email christine.wefel@wrps.net or call 715-424-6701, option 0.
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