MARSHALL — Three seats on the Marshall School Board will be up for election in November. It’s all part of Marshall Public Schools’ regular election cycle, but this year there will be something new before election filings open in August.

Next Wednesday, MPS will be holding an informational meeting for members of the public who are thinking of running for school board, Superintendent Jeremy Williams said. The meeting will be a chance for potential candidates to learn more about what the school board does, he said.

“We’ve hired someone who will come in and will walk through what to expect in that position and what it looks like, and answer questions people have about it,” Williams said. “We encourage anyone who’s thinking of running for school board to attend.”

Williams talked about the information session during Tuesday’s school board meeting, after board members approved a resolution setting the filing dates for school board candidates. The filing period will open on Aug. 2 and close at 5 p.m. on Aug. 16.

Williams said this will be the first time MPS has held a candidate information session before an election. The idea was suggested by a consultant working with the school district during its strategic planning process this year, he said.

“We have three (board) seats coming open this fall,” Williams said. With the school board turnover happening, it would be an important opportunity to explain what board members do, he said.

Marshall School Board Chairman Jeff Chapman said it was also a chance to learn more about the scope of the school board’s responsibilities.

“It’s good to know what you’re elected to do, and what you’re not elected to do,” Chapman said. He said the school board is focused on governance instead of management of the school district.

The informational meeting for potential school board candidates will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27. Williams said the meeting will be held in the professional development room at Marshall Middle School.

In response to a board member’s question, Williams said MPS could record the meeting for people who aren’t able to attend. MPS will also be advertising the meeting and posting the information on social media, he said.