Joplin Schools encourages qualified applicants interested in running for a position on the School Board to file to be a candidate in the April 7, 2026, election. Interested people may file at Joplin Schools Administration Building, 825 S. Pearl Avenue, Joplin, MO.

Filing will begin on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. and will continue during the district's regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Except for the first and last dates, candidate filing will not occur on days that the school district's offices are closed due to inclement weather. Filing will also not occur on the following dates when the school district's offices are closed: Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Monday, December 29, 2025. Candidate filing will resume at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, and close at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the last day for candidate filing.

Names of qualified candidates will be placed on the ballot in order of filing, except for candidates filing on the first day. The district will determine by random drawing the order in which the names of first day candidates will appear on the ballot.

There are three board positions available with a three-year term.