Education/Schools - Historical Notes

Board of Education

The following act once affected the board of education in Lake County but is no longer operative. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Private Acts of 1967, Chapter 270, as amended by Private Acts of 1971, Chapter 99, and Private Acts of 1972, Chapter 372 and any other acts amendatory thereto, to divide Lake County into school districts; to provide for the number, election and terms of members of the Lake County Board of Education; and to provide for a transition period for the existing Board of Education in Lake County. This Act was repealed by the Private Acts of 1992, Chapter 182.
2. Private Acts of 1992, Chapter 182, was repealed by Private Acts of 2002, Chapter 119.
3. Private Acts of 2002, Chapter 119, which created the school board in Lake County, was repealed by Private Acts of 2012, Chapter 77.

General Reference

The following acts constitute part of the administrative and political heritage of the educational structure of Lake County but are no longer operative since they have either been superseded, repealed, or failed to receive local approval. Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1907, Chapter 236, abolished the District Directors of school districts throughout the state and directed that school systems be under the management and control of Boards of Education, and a District Board of Advisors. Counties would be divided into five school districts as nearly equal in population as possible, and a member of the Board of Education would be elected in each district, and the County Superintendent would be the Secretary. The duties of the Board, the Chairman, and the Secretary were all generally set out, and the powers, duties, and authority of the advisory board were enumerated, as well as the process to be followed in filling vacancies. Several counties exempted themselves from the operation of the Act in Section 17 but Lake was not among them.
2. Private Acts of 1929, Chapter 789, stated that the County Superintendent of Public Instruction would be elected for a four year term by the County Board of Education at its first meeting in January, 1931. This act does not affect the duties, qualifications, or compensation of the holder of the office, the same to remain as is, except that a certificate of qualification be furnished and filed with the Board of Education not later than 30 days before the election.
3. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 37, provided that the members of the County Board of Education in Lake County would be elected by the voters of the county at the regular August election for a two year term, and vacancies would await the coming of the election except those which might exist at the passage of this Act which would be filled at a special election within 15 days. This law would not affect the status of any current member of the Board and prohibited any member of the County Court from being a member of the Board of Education. This Act was repealed expressly by Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 474.
4. Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 73, provided for the election of the County Superintendent of Public Instruction by the qualified voters of the county for two year terms under much the same conditions as were set up for the members of the Board of Education, specifically stating that this act would not affect the current holder of this office. This Act was also specifically repealed by Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 475.
5. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 474, expressly repeals Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 37, which provided for the popular election of the members of the County Board of Education.
6. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 475,also expressly repealed Private Acts of 1935, Chapter 73, which ordered the popular election of the County Superintendent of Public Instruction.
7. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 305, created the 12 member Board of Education for Lake County. The school districts were made up of certain whole civil districts, and D. H. Bowlin, Brown Johns, George Horton, Milan Bowen, C. J. Sizemore, Harrison Burke, and O. R. Cody, Lon Lawson, Mrs. Willard Chambers, Monroe Bush, William Seals, L. F. Johnson, and Porter Montgomery were named as the first members to serve until their successors were chosen at the next election in August, 1942. Members would be paid $2.00 daily for each day's attendance at a Board meeting. This act was repealed by Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 360.
8. Private Acts of 1945, Chapter 360, repealed specifically Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 305, and further provided that the Board of Education in Lake County would be elected pursuant to the general school laws and the entire school system would be operated to conform also with these general laws.
9. Private Acts of 1969, Chapter 183, would have amended Private Acts of 1967, Chapter 270, by deleting Paragraph eight (8) in Section 1 and inserting a new paragraph which stated that no vacancy would be created in the terms of members of the Board of Education which expired in those years in which no election was to take place, and that person would remain in office and continue to serve until his successor was elected at the earliest time but this act was not approved by the Quarterly County Court and therefore did not become a law.
10. Private Acts of 1969, Chapter 185, would also have amended Private Acts of 1967, Chapter 270, above, by providing that a vacancy in the office of a member of the Board of Education would be filled by a special election to be held on the first Tuesday in August preceding the expiration of the term of office. This Act was not approved by the Quarterly County Court of Lake County and, therefore, did not become a law under the Home Rule Amendment to the State Constitution.