Private Acts of 2002 Chapter 79

SECTION 1. Chapter 211 of the Private Acts of 1982, and all other acts amendatory thereto, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. Lauderdale County shall be divided into eight (8) school districts of substantially equal population, which shall be identical to the county legislative body districts established by resolution of the county legislative body from time to time.

SECTION 3. The Lauderdale County Board of Education (the Board) shall consist of eight (8) members, with one (1) member of the Board being elected by the qualified voters in each school district, on a nonpartisan basis. Board members shall be elected to staggered fouryear terms so that every two (2) years the terms of one-half (½) of the members of the Board shall expire, with the odd-numbered districts expiring at the same time, and the even-numbered districts expiring at the same time. Persons elected in the regular August general elections shall take office on September 1 following the election and shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

SECTION 4. During the transition from nine (9) districts, as provided under prior law, to the eight (8) districts provided for in this act, all incumbent Board members shall remain on the Board until the expiration of their current terms. Members in odd-numbered districts shall be elected to four-year terms in the August 2002 election and members in even-numbered districts shall be elected to four-year terms in the August 2004 election.

SECTION 5. The Board shall have the same powers, duties, privileges, and qualifications as the Board of Education established pursuant to Title 49 of Tennessee Code Annotated.

SECTION 6. If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.

SECTION 7. This act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body of Lauderdale County. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the legislative body and certified to the secretary of state.

SECTION 8. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this act, it shall be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, it shall become effective as provided in Section 7.

Passed: February 14, 2002.