NEW ROCHELLE, NY — On May 18, New Rochelle voters will elect three members to the nine-member Board of Education on May 18, 2021. The two candidates with the highest vote counts will be elected to full five-year terms beginning in July. The seats currently are held by Rachel Relkin, who is the current Board President, and Todd Kern. The candidate with the third-highest number of votes will take office immediately and serve through June 30, 2022, filling the unexpired term previously held by Paul Warhit, who stepped down in December.
The New Rochelle Board of Education has repeatedly refused to address the wholesale disenfranchisement of voters in 2020 due to improperly voiding ballots and the failure to properly secure close to half the ballots cast.
As in past years, the New Rochelle Board of Education is limiting information about school elections to its internal mailing lists to discourage candidates that are not parents of City School District of New Rochelle students.
Voters and candidates will note some changes in the election process due to COVID-19. All plans are subject to change via executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
In-person voting is expected to take place at the usual polling sites (except for School Election District 11, which has changed from Salesian High School to Fire Station 1 at 45 Harrison Street).
Information on how to obtain an absentee ballot will be disseminated in the coming weeks.
District Clerk Millie Bonilla and the facilities staff have visited the 13 polling places to ensure that there is sufficient space for social distancing and smooth operation of the election. Face masks and other personal protective equipment will be supplied for election inspectors, who will disinfect machines and pens throughout the day. Extra personnel will be on hand to keep things moving efficiently.
Information for Candidates
New Rochelle residents interested in running for a position on the Board of Education will find the materials on the budget vote and elections page of the City School District of New Rochelle website.
To run for office, a resident must be a qualified voter in New Rochelle and must have resided in the city for one year as of the date of the election. This year, candidates must gather 50 signatures rather than the usual 100 signatures on nominating petitions. (Last year, the petition requirement was waived completely.)
Nominating petitions must be filed with the office of the District Clerk by April 28, 2021.
The Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association will offer a workshop for prospective candidates on at 6:30 p.m. April 8, 2021, via Zoom.