Plains school board votes for mail-in ballots

PLAINS – The Plains School Board meeting took place on Monday night, and voted to change the election procedure to mail-in ballots.

The resolution, which was adopted, could have a major impact on elections.

“It’s really Catch-22. We don’t have enough information right now to make really solid projections even into next week, let alone April and May, or next Fall. However, taking a look at various scenarios that could happen on both extremities, I think it’s time to try it,” said superintendent Thom Chisholm. “My recommendation is that we go with an all mail-in ballot.”

Chisholm said that the estimated added cost would be $2,000 to $2,100 per election.

Chairman of the School Board, Ron Warren, said the mail-in ballots have so far taken the 300 to 400 voter turnout to a 900 person voter turnout, bringing in a lot of votes from out of the area.

“I think we need to do a mail in ballot just to see how many local voters we get in addition to the 600 we’re already getting. It could have a tremendous effect on our school elections,” said Warren.

Along with that, the Plains School Board hired Denise Montgomery as the head track coach for the spring 2013 season and also hired Batt Lulack as the head football coach for the fall 2013 season.

The next School Board meeting will take place on March 17 at 7 p.m.