The goal of the North Shore School District 112 Caucus is to exchange ideas and facilitate concerted action on matters that are deemed beneficial for the entire district. The caucus will vet, endorse, and support qualified candidates for the North Shore School District 112 School Board.
What is the caucus looking for in School Board candidates?
Broadly speaking, the Caucus seeks to endorse candidates who are well-qualified to serve on the NSSD 112 School Board and who possess the qualities inherent in an effective board member. The caucus is not looking for candidates who take a particular stance on any single issue.
Qualified candicates will have the skills, experience and temperament necessary to succeed as a Board member. Generally, we are looking for candidates who:
- Are open-minded. That means, they demonstrate an ability to seek out new information regarding District issues, consider all viewpoints and modify their views accordingly and in a way that serves the best interests of the District, overall.
- Understand the legal constraints placed upon the Board in both setting policy and taking action;
- Proactively solicit feedback from all corners of the community and are receptive of and responsive to such feedback;
- Are committed to achieving community-wide consensus on issues important in determining the future of North Shore School District 112 and are further determined to take action that will help ensure the long-term financial health and historic reputation of the District.
- Are committed to setting policy that will result in all students receiving the highest quality education possible and which will help our students thrive.
What is the process for vetting and endorsing candidates for school board?
The caucus convenes in the fall of each year prior to the general election, which occurs in the spring. Caucus members attend a series of pre-scheduled meetings where they recruit prospective school board candidates, prepare questionnaires for said candidates and discuss the prospective candidates’ qualifications for a position on the board.
Each prospective candidate is invited to complete the caucus questionnaire, be interviewed by the caucus and then present themselves before the caucus for endorsement.
The caucus, after discussing each candidate in a closed meeting, votes to endorse those candidates it believes are best-suited and most qualified to sit as members on the board.
Leading up to Election Day, the caucus and its members commit to promoting the candidates it has endorsed.