Public Notice: Board of Trustees Election 2021

 Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS)

Board of Trustees Election 2021

Election of the following five (5) positions on the ATRS Board of Trustees is scheduled in March, 2021:

  • Position No. 2 (Certified Member Trustee – 2nd Congressional District, Requires State Licensure),
  • Position No. 5 (Administrator Trustee – Requires Administrator’s License and holds Superintendent Position),
  • Position No. 6 (Administrator Trustee – Requires Administrator’s License),
  • Position No. 7 (NonCertified Trustee – Non State Licensure); and
  • Position No. 8 (Minority Trustee)

Candidates for Position No. 2 must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must be an active member of ATRS or a participant in the Teacher Deferred Retirement Option Plan (T-DROP) who is receiving T-DROP deposits.
  2. Must have a minimum of 5 years of actual service in ATRS.
  3. Must be employed in a position that requires state teaching licensure or its equivalent,
  4. Must be employed by a participating employer in the 2nd Congressional District.
  5. If nominee holds two or more positions, i.e., works as a teacher and bus driver, eligibility shall be determined by his/her primary employment.

Eligible voters for Position No. 2 must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must be active ATRS members (includes T-DROP participants), regardless of credited service, employed by participating employer located in the 2nd Congressional District, and employed in a position that requires a state teaching licensure.

Candidates for Positions No. 5 & 6 must meet the following criteria:

  1. There shall be two (2) active member trustees each of whom must be employed in a position requiring an administrator’s license.
  2. Must be an active member with a minimum of five (5) years of actual service.
  3. For Position No. 5, must be an active administrator trustee employed by a participating employer in the position of school superintendent or educational cooperative director.

Eligible voters for Positions No. 5 & 6 must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must be active member regardless of credited service, employed as a licensed administrator.

Candidates for Position No. 7 must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must be an active member with a minimum of 5 years of actual service in ATRS.
  2. Must be employed in a position not requiring state teaching licensure.

Eligible voters for Position No. 7 must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must be active ATRS member, regardless of credited service, employed by a participating employer in a non-licensed position.

Candidates for Position No. 8 must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must be an active member or retired member of ATRS with a minimum of 5 years of actual service in ATRS.
  2. Must be a member of a minority racial or ethnic group.

Eligible voters for Positios No. 8 must meet the following criteria:

  1. All active members regardless of credited service;
  2. Retired members.

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, and include the signatory's legibly printed name in addition to their signature. Nominating petitions and a candidate information form must be filed with the Executive Director of the Teacher Retirement System by Monday, January 11, 2021. Petitions may be requested bycontacting Tammy Porter by email at tammyp@artrs.gov or by phone 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 of record and will also collect, count, and certify election results.

  • Deadline for nomination: Monday, January 11, 2021.
  • Ballots mailed: Monday, March, 15, 2021.
  • Deadline for ballots to be returned: Thursday, April 15, 2021.
  • Results certified: Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

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: Monday, May 3, 2021
  • Deadline for ballots to be returned: Tuesday, June 1, 2021
  • Results certified: Monday, June 7, 2021
  • 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, 2021. 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, 2021.

The term of office of each elected trustee is six (6) years, or for the balance of the unexpired term where a vacancy created an open seat*. Each trustee shall continue to serve as trustee until his or her successor is elected.

*Term for Position No. 2 will expire June 30, 2022.
*Term for Position No. 5 will expire June 30, 2024.