as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to education; modifying the membership of 1.3 district school boards; amending Minnesota Statutes 1.4 2000, section 123B.09, subdivisions 1, 4, and 5; 1.5 repealing Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 123B.195. 1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 123B.09, 1.8 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 1.9 Subdivision 1. [POLICY; SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERSHIP.] (a) The 1.10 legislature finds that education is a basic foundation of our 1.11 society, like family and religion. Therefore, it is the policy 1.12 of the state that educational curricula and other education 1.13 policies be apolitical and nonpartisan. 1.14 (b) The care, management, and control of independent 1.15 districts is vested in a board of directors, to be known as the 1.16 school board.The term of office of a member shall be four1.17years commencing on the first Monday in January and until a1.18successor qualifies.The membership of the board shall consist 1.19 ofsix electedthe following 12 directorstogether with such ex1.20officio member as may be provided by law. The board may submit1.21to the electors at any school election the question whether the1.22board shall consist of seven members. If a majority of those1.23voting on the proposition favor a seven-member board, a seventh1.24member shall be elected at the next election of directors for a1.25four-year term and thereafter the board shall consist of seven2.1members.2.2Those districts with a seven-member board may submit to the2.3electors at any school election at least 150 days before the2.4next election of three members of the board the question whether2.5the board shall consist of six members. If a majority of those2.6voting on the proposition favor a six-member board instead of a2.7seven-member board, two members instead of three members shall2.8be elected at the next election of the board of directors and2.9thereafter the board shall consist of six members.elected by 2.10 their peers: 2.11 (1) two elementary and secondary students; 2.12 (2) two elementary and secondary teachers; 2.13 (3) two educational administrators; 2.14 (4) two business and labor leaders; 2.15 (5) two elementary and secondary PTSA members; and 2.16 (6) two civic and senior citizen leaders. 2.17 A member shall serve on the board for as long as the member 2.18 is elected by the member's peers. There are no term limits for 2.19 members serving on the board. 2.20 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 123B.09, 2.21 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 2.22 Subd. 4. [ILL OR ABSENT MEMBER.] A vacancy caused by a 2.23 member being unable to serve on such board and attend its 2.24 meetings for not less than 90 days because of illness or 2.25 prolonged absence from the district, may, after the board has by 2.26 resolution declared such vacancy to exist, be filled by the 2.27 board at any regular or special meeting thereoffor the2.28remainder of the unexpired termuntil a new member is elected 2.29 according to subdivision 1, or until such ill or absent member 2.30 is again able to resume duties as a member of such board, 2.31 whichever date is earliest. When the ill or absent member is 2.32 able to resume duties as a member of the board, the board must 2.33 by resolution so determine and declare such person to be again a 2.34 member of the board, and the member appointed by the board to be 2.35 no longer a member thereof. 2.36 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 123B.09, 3.1 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 3.2 Subd. 5. [APPOINTMENTS TO FILL VACANCIES.] Any other 3.3 vacancy in a board must be filled by board appointment at a 3.4 regular or special meeting. The appointment shall be evidenced 3.5 by a resolution entered in the minutes and shall continue until 3.6an election is held under thisa new member is elected according 3.7 to subdivision 1.All elections to fill vacancies shall be for3.8the unexpired term. If the vacancy occurs before the first day3.9to file affidavits of candidacy for the next school district3.10general election and more than two years remain in the unexpired3.11term, a special election shall be held in conjunction with the3.12school district general election. The appointed person shall3.13serve until the qualification of the successor elected to fill3.14the unexpired part of the term at that special election. If the3.15vacancy occurs on or after the first day to file affidavits of3.16candidacy for the school district general election, or when less3.17than two years remain in the unexpired term, there shall be no3.18special election to fill the vacancy and the appointed person3.19shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term and until a3.20successor is elected and qualifies at the school district3.21election.3.22 Sec. 4. [REPEALER.] 3.23 Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 123B.195, is repealed. 3.24 Sec. 5. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 3.25 Sections 1 to 4 are effective January 1, 2006.