Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS)
Board of Trustees Election 2018
Election of the following two (2) positions on the ATRS Board of Trustees is scheduled in March, 2018: Position #5 (Certified Member – Administrator Trustee) and Position # 11 (Retirant Trustee).
Positions #5 Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Must be an active member of ATRS (includes T-DROP participants);
- Must have five (5) years of actual service in ATRS; and
- Must be employed as a school administrator (superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, vice principal, president, chancellor, or director of a state institution of higher education, community/technical collect, or vocational center/cooperative),
Position #5 Eligible voters shall be active ATRS members (includes T-DROP participants) employed as school administrators (superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, vice principal, president, chancellor, or director of a state institution of higher education, community/technical collect, or vocational center/cooperative) or employed by an ATRS covered employer in a position Grade 24 or above.
Position #11 Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a retiree member receiving an annuity paid by ATRS; and
- Must be a resident of the State of Arkansas
Position #11 Eligible voters shall be all ATRS retirees receiving an ATRS annuity.
Nomination for election shall be upon receipt of a petition signed by at least 25 voters who are eligible to vote for the trustee position for which the member is seeking nomination. The petitions must include the last four digits of the Social Security number of each signatory for verification of the member's eligibility to vote for the position. Nominating petitions and a candidate information form must be filed with the Executive Director of the Teacher Retirement System by Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Petitions may be requested by calling Tammy Porter at 501-682-6149 or toll free 1-800-666-2877.
The Board of Trustees shall employ an independent contractor who will mail ballots to eligible voters' addresses or record and will also collect, count, and certify election results.
- Deadline for nomination: Wednesday, January 10, 2018
- Ballots mailed: Thursday, March, 15, 2018
- Deadline for ballots to be returned: Monday, April 16, 2018
- Results certified: Friday, April 20, 2018
If no candidate receives at least 50% of votes cast by eligible voters on the first ballot, a run-off election will be held between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for the position. The Schedule for the run-off election will be as follows:
- Run-off ballots mailed: Tuesday, May 1, 2018
- Deadline for ballots to be returned: Friday, June 1, 2018
- Results certified: Tuesday, June 5, 2018
If any of the above fixed dates fall on a weekend or holiday, that date is moved to the next regular work day.
If a candidate receives at least 50% of the votes cast on the first ballot, they will be declared the winner of the election and will assume office on July 1, 2018. If a run-off election is necessary, the candidate receiving at least 50% of the votes cast in the runoff will be declared the winner of the election and will assume office on July 1, 2018.
The term of office of each elected trustee is six (6) years. Each trustee shall continue to serve as trustee until his or her successor is elected.