Private Acts of 1971 Chapter 7

SECTION 1.  That in counties of this State having a population of not less than 32,000, nor more than 33,000, by the Federal Census of 1970, or any subsequent Federal Census, there is hereby created a County Board of Education to be composed of seven (7) members who shall be elected by all of the qualified voters of the respective School Districts of said County hereinafter created in this Act.  Beginning with the August election, 1972, and biennially thereafter as the terms of office of members of said Board of Education expire, one (1) member of said Board of Education shall be elected from each of the seven (7) School Districts of said County.  Each member of the Board of Education so elected shall hold office for a period of six (6) years from September 1 next following his election and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.

SECTION 2.  The said County is hereby divided into seven (7) School Districts composed of the following Commission Districts of said County:

Commission Districts Numbers 1 and 2 shall constitute and compose School District Number 1.

Commission Districts Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 shall constitute and compose School District Number 2.

Commission District Number 3 shall constitute and compose School District Number 3.

Commission District Number 4 shall constitute and compose School District Number 4. 

Commission District Number 5 shall constitute and compose School District Number 5.

Commission District Number 6 shall constitute and compose School District Number 6.

Commission District Number 12 shall constitute and compose School District Number 7.

SECTION 3.  That until their successors are elected as hereinafter provided, the following shall constitute and compose the Board of Education for said County:

Herman Daniel, whose term of office expired September 1, 1970; Maurice Jernigan, whose term of office expired September 1, 1970; Winston Wallace, whose term of office expired September 1, 1970; Wayne Roberts, who shall hold office until September 1, 1972; Herman Johnson, who shall hold office until September 1, 1972; Frank Bramblett, who shall hold office until September 1, 1974; and Irene Vick, who shall hold office until September 1, 1974.

A special election shall be held in said County no later than the first Thursday in August, 1971, for the purpose of electing a member of the County Board of Education from School Districts Numbers 1 and 3, and for the purpose of electing a member of the County Board of Education at large from School Districts Numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6, all three of whom shall serve until September 1, 1976.

Members of said Board of Education shall not be elected for School Districts represented by the members named above until there is a vacancy in such School Districts.

SECTION 4.  The members of said Board of Education shall be residents and voters of the school district in which they are elected.  Members of said Board of Education shall be citizens of recognized integrity, intelligence, and ability to administer the duties of the office.  No member of the County Commission or any other county official shall be eligible for election as a member of said Board.  No person shall be eligible to serve on said Board unless such person be a bona fide resident of said county having a practical education.  If any member of said board ceases to reside in the school district in which such member is elected, the office of such member shall become vacant.

SECTION 5.  That it shall be the duty of said County Board of Education as herein created to meet within ten (10) days after the effective date of this Act and to organize by selecting one of their number as Chairman.  The Chairman shall serve for a term of one (1) year.  The County Superintendent of said counties shall act as Secretary of the Board of Education without additional compensation, but in case of the absence of the County Superintendent for any cause whatsoever, said County Board of Education may designate one of its number to act as such Secretary.

In case for any reason whatsoever it shall be impracticable or impossible for said Board to meet within ten (10) days after the effective date of this Act and organize them, said Board shall meet and organize as herein directed at the earliest possible date.  A majority of the membership of said Board shall constitute a quorum thereof for the transaction of all business.  Special meetings thereof may be held at the call of the Chairman or whenever in the opinion of a majority of the membership thereof such special meetings shall be necessary.  In case of special meetings in either of the above mentioned methods, all members thereof shall be given notice of such special meetings, at least three (3) days before the date set therefor.

SECTION 6.  That said Count Board of Education shall have all the rights, powers, liabilities and compensation as are provided for school boards under Title 49, Chapter 2, of the Tennessee Code Annotated, except where the same conflict with other express provisions of this Act, in which case the provisions of this Act shall prevail.

SECTION 7.  That nothing in this Act shall be construed as having the effect of removing any incumbent from office or abridging the term of any official prior to the end of the term for which he was elected.

SECTION 8.  That if any part of this Act shall be held or declared to be unconstitutional and void, it shall not affect the remaining parts of this Act, it being hereby declared to be the legislative intent to have passed the remainder of this Act, notwithstanding the invalidity of any other part thereof.

SECTION 9.  That Chapter 563 of the Private Acts of 1935, and all Acts amendatory thereof, be and the same are hereby repealed.

SECTION 10.  That this Act shall have no effect unless the same shall have been approved by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Quarterly County Court of Coffee County at the next regular or special meeting of such Quarterly County Court occurring after this Act is approved by the Chief Executive of this State.  The approval or non-approval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of such Quarterly County Court and certified by him to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 11.  That for the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this Act, as provided in Section 10, it shall be effective upon becoming law.  For all other purposes, it shall become effective upon being approved as provided in Section 10.

Passed:  March 11, 1971.