SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – At least four people have filed for the Sioux Falls school board and there’s still time to file.
As of March 31, SFSD officials said this year’s candidates are incumbent Nan Kelly, as well as Elizabeth Duffy, Patricia Ringold, and Thomas Werner. There will be two openings on the board.
Trial starts Tuesday for accused DSS thief
According to the SFSD website, the two winning candidates will start their three-year terms in July, ending their terms in 2028.
The Sioux Falls School District (SFSD) school board will have its two vacancies soon, as Carly Reiter and Kelly’s terms expire in July. The school board election is May 13.
On March 25, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed HB 1130 into law, which provides permissible dates for municipal and school district elections. Parts of the law state that elections for its listed agencies would be held “on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.”
“We took a neutral position on [HB 1130] during the legislative session,” DeeAnn Konrad, SFSD community relations coordinator, said in a statement to KELOLAND News.
Under the new law, term limits will extend for officials like Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken. But SFSD officials say that the law will not affect the upcoming school board election.
“Two years ago, we helped draft a bill to let SD school districts change to four-year terms for school board members so we can combine with other elections,” said Konrad. “The last odd year election for SFSD will be held on May 13, 2025 and this law won’t impact us in the future… our intent, all along, was to combine for efficiency and with hopes of a larger voter turnout in Sioux Falls.”
After the 2026 election, future school board elections will coincide with statewide primary and general elections.
If you’d like to be in the nomination pool for school board, there’s still time to apply. All candidate petitions must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 4.
District officials said candidate packets can be found at the Instructional Planning Center, 201 E. 38th Street. Each petition must include 20 signatures from registered voters within the Sioux Falls School District.
All school board candidates must submit a financial interest statement 15 days after filing a petition.
Voting Map created by the Sioux Falls School District.
In this election, registered voters can vote in-person or request absentee ballots from their county auditor in Minnehaha or Lincoln counties. Minnehaha County starts in-person absentee voting on April 28.
