Dallas Elementary School District 327 announced on Apr. 27 that six seats on its Board of Education will be open in the April 6, 2027 election, and has provided detailed information for those interested in becoming a school board member.
The announcement is important as it gives community members an opportunity to participate in local education governance and help shape policies affecting students, teachers, and families. The district shared resources from the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), including guides such as “How School Boards Work” and “How a School Board Member Approaches the Job,” to help prospective candidates understand the role.
Candidates must file a Statement of Economic Interests with their county clerk and obtain a receipt. They are also required to complete a nominating petition signed by at least 50 registered voters or ten percent of voters—whichever is less—and submit a Statement of Candidacy. All documents must be filed with the county clerk between 113 and 106 days before the election; for this cycle, paperwork is due on or before Monday, December 14, 2026. Contact information was provided for both Hancock County Clerk Holly Wilde-Tillman in Carthage and Henderson County Clerk Amanda Van Arsdale in Oquawka.
The Dallas Elementary School District 327 represents Henderson and Hancock counties, including Dallas City Elementary School according to state data. The district had an enrollment of 193 students during the 2019-2020 school year and serves grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade according to state records.
State data shows that Dallas Elementary employs fifteen teachers who earn an average salary of $37,865 prior to pension contributions; all are women, none are men, and no teacher had more than ten absences during the most recent reporting period as reported by Illinois State Board of Education. Demographically, student enrollment is approximately ninety-one percent White, one-half percent Hispanic, and one percent Asian according to ISBE.
Financial reports indicate that Dallas Elementary spent $18,665 per student in fiscal year 2020 for a total expenditure of $3.6 million according to official records. In terms of attendance challenges, thirteen students were classified as chronically truant during the same period—a rate lower than the statewide average but still notable within local context as documented by ISBE.
With several board positions open next spring’s election provides residents with an opportunity to become more involved with their public schools.
