Private Acts of 1961 Chapter 326

SECTION 1.  That in counties having a population of not less than 19,000 nor more than 19,100, the election of the members of the County Board of Education shall be by the qualified voters of said counties as the terms of the present members of the Board of Education in said counties expire as hereinafter provided.

SECTION 2.  That the county is by this Act divided into seven school districts.  The First Civil District in said county shall be the First School District; the Second and Third Civil Districts shall be the Second School District; the Fourth Civil District shall be the Third School District; the Fifth Civil District shall be the Fourth School District; the Sixth Civil District shall be the Fifth School District; the Seventh and Tenth Civil Districts shall be the Sixth School District; and the Eighth and Ninth Civil Districts shall be the Seventh School District.

Chapter 96, Private Acts of 1953, is hereby repealed and no vacancy shall exist because of the expiration of the terms of the two Board members whose positions were created by said Private Act when the terms of said Board members expire April 1, 1961.  Provided, however, if these two positions are filled again before this Act can be approved as provided for in Section 5 below these two positions shall become non-existent as of April 1, 1963.  The transition from the Board as it now exists except for the Private Act mentioned above to the new Board provided for by this Act, shall be effected as hereinafter prescribed.

The first Board member from these new districts shall be elected by the qualified voters of the entire county at the regular August election 1962 from the Second School District created by this Act, who shall take office September 1, 1962, following the election for a period of four years.  To fill the vacancy resulting from the expiration of the term of the position on the School Board ending July 1, 1961, the County Courts of such counties shall appoint a Board member to serve until September 1, 1962.  There shall also be elected by the qualified voters of the entire county at the regular election August 1962 a Board member from the Third School District created by this Act whose term of office shall begin September 1, following the election for a period of four years.

A school board member shall be elected by the qualified voters of the entire county from the Fourth School District created by this Act at the regular August election 1964, whose term of office shall be for a period of four years beginning September 1 following the election.  To fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the term ending July 1, 1963, the County Courts of said counties shall appoint a member from the Fourth School District to serve until September 1, 1964.  There shall also be elected by the qualified voters of the entire county at the regular election August 1964 a Board member from the Sixth School District created by this Act, whose term of office shall be for a period of four years beginning September 1, 1964.

A Board member shall be elected from the Fifth School District created by this Act by the qualified voters of the entire county at the regular August election 1966, whose term of office shall be for a period of four years beginning September 1, 1966.  To fill the vacancy in the position created by the expiration of the term July 1, 1965, there shall be appointed by the County Courts a Board member from the Fifth School District to serve until September 1, 1966.  There shall also be elected by the qualified voters of the entire county at the regular August election 1966, a Board member from the Seventh School District ceated [sic] by this Act whose term of office shall be for a period of four years beginning September 1, 1966.

There shall be created from the First School District created by this Act by the qualified voters of the entire county at the regular August election 1968, a Board member whose term of office shall be for a period of four years beginning September 1, 1968.  To fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the term ending July 1, 1967, the County Courts shall appoint a Board member from the First School District to serve until September 1, 1968.

The terms of all Board members after the term provided for in this Act shall be for a term of four years, and all incumbents shall remain in office during the transition period and thereafter until their successors are elected and qualified.

SECTION 3.  That the powers, duties, qualifications, and mode of procedure of the County Board of Education of such counties, shall be the same as those provided for a County Board of Education under the General Education Laws of the State of Tennessee, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 4.  That it is the intent of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee to provide a County Board of Education for such counties elected by the qualified voters composed of seven (7) members having four year terms, by the County Board of Education membership may, during the period of transition from the former system of election, exceed for a time a membership of seven (7).  In addition, it is the intent of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee that this Act and all legislative Acts relating to County Boards of Education be construed in Pari Materia for the purpose of obtaining these objectives.

SECTION 5.  That this Act shall be of no force and effect until the same shall be approved in an election by a majority of those voting in said election in counties affected within sixty (60) days after the same shall have been signed by the Governor of Tennessee.  Ballots used in such election shall have printed thereon the caption, title, or substance of this Act together with the words

FOR ADOPTION

AGAINST ADOPTION

and voters shall vote for or against adoption.  The said election is declared to be for a county governmental purpose and the counties shall expend from their general funds the monies necessary to conduct the election.  The votes cast shall be canvassed by the County Board of Election Commissioners upon the first Monday occurring five or more days next after the date of such election and the result shall be proclaimed by such Board and certified to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 6.  That this Act shall become effective from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed:  March 15, 1961.