For Local School Council hopefuls, the first bell will ring at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

That is the deadline for candidates to submit nomination forms to the Chicago Public Schools' Office of Local School Council Relations.

Candidates may also file nomination forms to the principal of the school in which they are running by 3 p.m. March 12. Nomination forms are online at www.cps.k12.il.us.

Elections will be held April 16 for high school LSCs and April 17 for elementary school LSCs. The term of office for LSC members is two years, with the new term beginning July 1.

Local School Councils are responsible for hiring, or renewing the contract of, a principal, working on the school's  budget and developing the school improvement plans.

LSCs consist of a variety of representatives, including the school principal, two teachers, six parents and two members of the community. High school LSCs also consist of a student representative, who is not eligible to vote on a principal's contract and allocation of teaching and staff resources.

Teacher and student reps are appointed by the Board of Education; others, except for the principal, win spots by election.

A parent representative must have a child enrolled in the school and not be an employee of the board.

A community representative must reside in the attendance area or voting district of the school, not have a child enrolled at the school and not be an employee of the board.

Neither an assistant principal nor a relative of a principal is eligible to serve on an LSC.

Incoming LSC members must complete 18 hours of training within six months of taking office.

LSCs have existed in Chicago since 1989, the year after the Chicago School Reform Act passed, and, 17,256 ran for 6,000 LSC positions.

LSC election timeline

• March 5: 3 p.m. deadline for candidates to deliver nomination forms in person to CPS Central Office, Local School Council Relations, 5^th floor, Room 502, 125 S. Clark St., Chicago.
• March 12: 3 p.m. final deadline for submission of original nomination forms to the school where the candidate is running.
• March 13: Principals post final list of candidates.
• March 26-April 1: Candidate forums are held at individual schools.
• April 16: Election day for LSCs at high schools.
• April 17: Election day for LSCs at elementary schools.
• April 28: Deadline for LSCs to certify results, and break ties, if any.
• June 25: Board of Education appoints teacher and high school student representatives.
• June 26: LSC inauguration.
• July 1: New LSC members take office.