MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Senator(s) Johnson (38th)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-306, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT MEMBERS OF SCHOOL BOARDS SHALL POSSESS A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION OR GED EQUIVALENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-7-306, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-7-306. (1) Every school board member selected after July 1, 1997, shall be required to possess a high school education or its equivalent, and complete a course of training and education for local school board members, in order for board members to carry out their duties more effectively and be exposed to new ideas involving school restructuring. Such course of training approved by the State Board of Education shall be conducted by the School Executive Management Institute of the State Department of Education or the Mississippi School Boards Association. Upon selection, each school board member shall file his educational transcript with the office of the school board. Upon completion of the course of training, each board member shall file a certificate of completion with the office of the school board. In the event that a board member fails to complete a high school education or its equivalent or complete such training within six (6) months of his selection, * * * such board member shall no longer be qualified to serve and shall be removed from office.

(2) In addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, after taking office, each school board member shall be required to file annually in the office of the school board a certificate of completion of a course of continuing education as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Upon the failure of any local school board member to file with the school board the certificates of completion as provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, such school board member shall be removed from office.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is hereby directed to submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.