Bill Text: MS HB1467 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi House Bill 1467 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: School districts; elect all board members and appoint all superintendents.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-02-02 - Died In Committee [HB1467 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2010-HB1467-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2010 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representative Johnson

House Bill 1467

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-5-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BOARDS OF EDUCATION AT THE SAME TIME AS THE GENERAL STATE AND COUNTY ELECTIONS IN 2011 AND TO ESTABLISH A TERM OF FOUR YEARS FOR THAT OFFICE; TO AMEND SECTION 37-5-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-207, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OF CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LINE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE SAME MANNER AND AT THE SAME TIME AS THE GENERAL STATE AND COUNTY ELECTIONS; TO ESTABLISH A TERM OF FOUR YEARS FOR THOSE OFFICES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-713, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OF CERTAIN SPECIAL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE SAME MANNER AND AT THE SAME TIME AS THE GENERAL STATE AND COUNTY ELECTIONS; TO ESTABLISH A TERM OF FOUR YEARS FOR THAT OFFICE; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 37-7-221, 37-7-223, 37-7-227 AND 37-7-229, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDE CERTAIN METHODS FOR ELECTING TRUSTEES OF CONSOLIDATED AND LINE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 37-7-705, 37-7-707, 37-7-709, 37-7-711, 37-7-715 AND 37-7-717, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDE CERTAIN METHODS FOR SELECTING TRUSTEES OF SPECIAL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS BEGINNING ON JULY 1, 2011; TO PROVIDE THAT ELECTED SUPERINTENDENTS HOLDING OFFICE ON THAT DATE MAY SERVE UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM FOR WHICH THEY WERE ELECTED; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; TO AMEND SECTION 37-5-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ELECTED COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION HOLDING OFFICE ON JULY 1, 2011, MAY SERVE THE ENTIRE TERM FOR WHICH THEY WERE ELECTED; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSORS TO ELECTED COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THEIR TERM; TO DELETE THE PROVISION OF LAW THAT PROVIDES FOR THE ELECTION OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION IN THE SAME MANNER AND TIME AS OTHER COUNTY OFFICERS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE REPEAL OF THAT SECTION EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2012; TO REPEAL SECTION 37-9-12, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR A REFERENDUM ON THE QUESTION OF RETAINING THE ELECTIVE METHOD OF CHOOSING THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 37-5-63 THROUGH 37-5-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION, ON JULY 1, 2010; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-7-105, 37-7-725, 37-9-23, 37-17-6, 37-17-13, 37-18-7, 37-43-39 AND 23-15-297, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-5-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-5-7. * * *

* * * On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2011 and every four (4) years thereafter, an election shall be held in the same manner and at the same time as the general state and county elections are held and conducted for the purpose of electing the county boards of education * * *. All members of the county board of education shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election and shall serve for a term of four (4) years.

SECTION 2. Section 37-5-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-5-19. Vacancies in the membership of the county board of education shall be filled by appointment, within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs, by the remaining members of the county board of education. The appointee shall be selected from the qualified electors of the district in which the vacancy occurs, and shall serve until the first Monday of January next succeeding the next general state election, at which general election a member shall be elected * * * for a full term.

If the vacancy occurs more than five (5) months prior to the next general state election and the remaining members of the county board of education are unable to agree upon an individual to be appointed, any two (2) of the remaining members may certify such disagreement to the county election commission. Upon the receipt of such a certificate by the county election commission, or any member thereof, the commission shall hold a special election to fill the vacancy, which * * * election, notice thereof and ballot shall be controlled by the laws concerning special elections to fill vacancies in county or county district offices. The person elected at the special election shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

SECTION 3. Section 37-7-207, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-7-207. (1) All school districts reconstituted or created under the provisions of Article 3 of this chapter, and which lie wholly within one (1) county, but not including municipal separate and countywide districts, shall be governed by a board of five (5) trustees. The first board of trustees of such districts shall be appointed by the county board of education, and the original appointments shall be so made that one (1) trustee shall be appointed to serve until the first Saturday of March following such appointments, one (1) for one (1) year longer, one (1) for two (2) years longer, one (1) for three (3) years longer, and one (1) for four (4) years longer. After such original appointments, the trustees of such school districts shall be elected by the qualified electors of such school districts in the manner provided for in this section and Section 37-7-225, with each trustee to be elected for a term of four (4) years. The five (5) members of the board of trustees of such consolidated school district shall be elected from special trustee election districts by the qualified electors thereof, as herein provided. The board of trustees of any such consolidated school district shall apportion the consolidated school district into five (5) special trustee election districts. The board of trustees of such school district shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) trustee election districts. The board of trustees shall thereafter publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation within said school district for at least three (3) consecutive weeks; and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the board of trustees, said new district lines shall thereafter be effective.

On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2011 and every four (4) years thereafter, in each consolidated school district * * * an election shall be held in the same manner and at the same time as the general state and county elections are held and conducted, for the purpose of electing the board of trustees of that district. At the election, the members of the * * * board from District One shall be elected for a term of four (4) years. However, in order to provide for an orderly transition, the term of each member of the board serving on the effective date of House Bill No. ____, 2010 Regular Session, that otherwise would expire after the first Monday in January 2012, shall expire on the first Monday of January 2012. All members of the board of trustees shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election. All vacancies which may occur during a term shall be filled by appointment of the consolidated school district trustees, but the person so appointed shall serve only until the next general election following such appointment, at which time a person shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term at the same time and in the same manner as a trustee is elected for the full term then expiring. The person so elected to the unexpired term shall take office immediately. The appointee shall be selected from the qualified electors of the district in which the vacancy occurs.

(2) All school districts reconstituted and created under the provisions of Article 1 of this chapter, which embrace territory in two (2) or more counties, but not including municipal separate school districts, shall be governed by a board of five (5) trustees. In making the original appointments, the several county boards of education shall appoint the trustee or trustees to which the territory in such county is entitled, and, by agreement between the county boards concerned, one (1) person shall be appointed to serve until the first Saturday of March following, one (1) for one (1) year longer, one (1) for two (2) years longer, one (1) for three (3) years longer and one (1) for four (4) years longer. Thereafter, such trustees shall be elected as in the manner provided for in this section and Section 37-7-225, for a term of four (4) years. The five (5) members of the board of trustees of such line consolidated school district shall be elected from special trustee election districts by the qualified electors thereof, as herein provided. The existing board of trustees of such line consolidated school district shall apportion the line consolidated school district into five (5) special trustee election districts. The board of trustees shall place upon its minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) trustee election districts. The board of trustees shall thereafter publish the same in a newspaper of general circulation within said school district for at least three (3) consecutive weeks; and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the board of trustees, said new district lines shall thereafter be effective. * * * However, * * * in any line consolidated school district encompassing two (2) or more counties created pursuant to Laws, 1953, Extraordinary Session, Chapter 12, Section 8, in which, as a condition precedent to the creation of the district, each county that is a part of the district was contractually guaranteed to always have at least one (1) representative on the board, in order that the condition precedent may be honored and guaranteed, in any year in which the board of trustees of that line consolidated school district does not have at least one (1) member from each county or part thereof forming such district, the board of trustees in such district shall be governed by a board of a sufficient number of trustees to fulfill this guarantee, five (5) of whom shall be elected from the five (5) special trustee election districts which shall be as nearly equal as possible and one (1) member trustee appointed at large from each county not having representation on the elected board. In such cases, the board of supervisors of each county shall adopt a written agreement to guarantee the manner of appointment of at least one (1) representative from each county in the district, placing such written agreement on the minutes of each board of supervisors in each county.

On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2011 and every four (4) years thereafter, in each line consolidated school district * * * an election shall be held in the same manner and at the same time as the general state and county elections are held and conducted, for the purpose of electing the board of trustees of such district. At the election, the members of the * * * board * * * shall be elected for a term of * * * four (4) years. However, in order to provide for an orderly transition, the term of each member of the board serving on the effective date of House Bill No. ____, 2010 Regular Session, that otherwise would expire after the first Monday in January 2012, shall expire on the first Monday of January 2012. All members of the * * * board of trustees shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election. In all elections, the trustee elected shall be a resident and qualified elector of the district entitled to the representation upon the board, and he shall be elected only by the qualified electors of such district. All vacancies which may occur during a term of office shall be filled by appointment of the consolidated line school district trustees, but the person so appointed shall serve only until the next general election following such appointment, at which time a person shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term at the same time and in the same manner as the trustee is elected for the full term then expiring. The person so elected to the unexpired term shall take office immediately.

SECTION 4. Section 37-7-713, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-7-713. (1) In all special municipal separate school districts where the district embraces less than the entire area of the county and where the majority of the educable children of such district reside outside the limits of the municipality, * * * the * * * special municipal separate school district shall be governed by a board of trustees consisting of five (5) members, to be elected by the qualified electors of such municipal separate school district * * * in the manner provided by this section. On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2011, and every four (4) years thereafter, an election shall be held in each special municipal separate school district as constituted in this section, in the same manner and at the same time as the general state and county elections are held and conducted, for the purpose of electing the members of the boards of trustees established under this section. All members of the boards of trustees as constituted in this section shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election and shall serve for a term of four (4) years. The five (5) members of the board of trustees shall be elected from trustee election districts by the qualified electors of the district, as provided in this section. The governing authorities of the municipality shall apportion the special municipal separate school district into five (5) special trustee election districts as nearly equal as possible according to population, incumbency and other factors pronounced by the courts before the effective date of House Bill No. ____, 2010 Regular Session. The municipal governing authorities shall place upon their minutes the boundaries determined for the new five (5) trustee election districts. The municipal governing authorities shall thereafter publish the same in a newspaper having general circulation within the school district for at least three (3) consecutive weeks; and after having given notice of publication and recording the same upon the minutes of the municipal governing authorities, the new district lines shall be effective. The term of each incumbent trustee serving on the effective date of House Bill No. ____, 2010 Regular Session, that otherwise would expire after the first Monday of January 2012 shall expire on the first Monday of January 2012.

(2) Vacancies in the membership of the board of trustees of any special municipal separate school district as constituted in this section shall be filled by appointment, within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs, by the governing authorities of the municipality. The appointee shall be selected from the qualified electors of the district in which the vacancy occurs. The president of the municipal governing authorities shall certify to the Secretary of State the fact of the appointment, and the Governor shall commission the person appointed. If the unexpired term is longer than six (6) months, the appointee shall serve until a successor is elected as provided in this section, unless the vacancy occurs ninety (90) or fewer days before the general election in a year in which an election would normally be held for that office as provided by law, in which case the person appointed shall serve the unexpired portion of the term. The vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by the qualified electors at the next regular special election day occurring more than ninety (90) days after the occurrence of the vacancy. The president of the municipal governing authorities, within ten (10) days after the occurrence of the vacancy, shall make an order, in writing, directed to the commissioners of election, directing an election to be held on the next regular special election day to fill the vacancy. The election commissioners shall require each candidate to qualify at least sixty (60) days before the date of the election, and shall give a certificate of election to the person elected, and shall return to the Secretary of State a copy of the order of holding the election and the results of the election, certified by the president of the municipal governing authorities. The Governor shall commission the person elected. The election shall be held in the same manner provided for other municipal office vacancies.

However, where only one (1) person has qualified with the commissioners of election to be a candidate within the time provided by law, the commissioners of election shall certify to the municipal governing authorities that there is only one (1) candidate. The municipal governing authorities shall dispense with the election and shall appoint the certified candidate to fill the unexpired term. The president of the municipal governing authorities shall certify to the Secretary of State the candidate so appointed to serve in the office and the Governor shall commission the candidate. If no person has qualified at least sixty (60) days before the date of the election, the commissioners of election shall certify that fact to the municipal governing authorities, which shall dispense with the election and fill the vacancy by appointment. The president of the municipal governing authorities shall certify to the Secretary of State the fact of the appointment, and the Governor shall commission the appointed person.

SECTION 5. Sections 37-7-221, 37-7-223, 37-7-227 and 37-7-229, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provide certain methods for electing trustees of consolidated and line consolidated school districts, are repealed.

SECTION 6. Sections 37-7-705, 37-7-707, 37-7-709, 37-7-711, 37-7-715 and 37-7-717, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provide certain methods for selecting trustees of special municipal separate school districts, are repealed.

SECTION 7. Section 37-9-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-13. (1) From and after July 1, 2011, in all public school districts, the school board shall appoint the superintendent of the school district. Any school district superintendent in office on July 1, 2011, who was elected to the office for a term that expires after July 1, 2010, may continue to hold the office until the expiration of the term of office for which the superintendent was elected, at which time the school board shall appoint a successor school district superintendent.

(2) No person shall be eligible to the office of superintendent of schools unless that person * * * holds a valid administrator's license issued by the State Department of Education and has had not less than four (4) years of classroom or administrative experience.

SECTION 8. Section 37-9-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-25. The school board shall have the power and authority, in its discretion, to employ the superintendent * * * for not exceeding four (4) scholastic years and the principals or licensed employees for not exceeding three (3) scholastic years. In such case, contracts shall be entered into with such superintendents, principals and licensed employees for the number of years for which they have been employed. All such contracts with licensed employees shall for the years after the first year thereof be subject to the contingency that the licensed employee may be released if, during the life of the contract, the average daily attendance should decrease from that existing during the previous year and thus necessitate a reduction in the number of licensed employees during any year after the first year of the contract. However, in all such cases the licensed employee must be released before July 1 or at least thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the school term, whichever date should occur earlier. The salary to be paid for the years after the first year of such contract shall be subject to revision, either upward or downward, in the event of an increase or decrease in the funds available for the payment thereof, but, unless such salary is revised prior to the beginning of a school year, it shall remain for such school year at the amount fixed in such contract. However, where school district funds, other than adequate education program funds, are available during the school year in excess of the amount anticipated at the beginning of the school year the salary to be paid for such year may be increased to the extent that such additional funds are available and nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit same.

SECTION 9. Section 37-5-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-5-61. (1) There shall be a county superintendent of education in each county.

(2) The superintendent shall serve as the executive secretary of the county board of education, but shall have no vote in the proceedings before the board and no voice in fixing the policies thereof.

(3) In addition, the superintendent shall be the director of all schools in the county outside the municipal separate school districts.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, the superintendent shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as other county officers are elected and shall hold office for a term of four (4) years.

(5) County superintendents of education holding office on July 1, 2011, may continue to serve for the remainder of the term for which they were elected. However, if any county superintendent holding office on July 1, 2011, ceases to hold the office before the expiration of that term of office, the school board of the school district shall appoint a successor school district superintendent in accordance with Section 37-9-13. Upon the expiration of the term of office in effect on July 1, 2011, the superintendent will be appointed in accordance with Section 37-9-13. Persons previously elected to the office of county superintendent of education may apply and be considered for appointment to the position by the school board.

(6) This section shall stand repealed on January 1, 2012.

SECTION 10. Section 37-9-12, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provides for a referendum on the question of retaining the elective method of choosing the county superintendent of education, is repealed.

SECTION 11. Sections 37-5-63, 37-5-65, 37-5-67, 37-5-69, 37-5-71 and 37-5-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provide for the appointment of certain county superintendents of education, are repealed.

SECTION 12. Section 37-7-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-7-105. (1) In cases where two (2) or more school boards determine that it is appropriate that their existing boundaries be altered to provide better service to students, each school board shall enter on its minutes the legal description of new district lines and shall publish the order altering the districts in some newspaper published and having a general circulation in the district(s) once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks, which * * * order shall be duly certified by the president of the school board. If no newspaper is published in the school district, then the order shall be published for the required time in some newspaper having a general circulation therein, and, in addition, a copy of the order shall be posted for the required time at three (3) public places in the school district. The order so published shall contain a provision giving notice that the order shall become final thirty (30) days after the first publication of the notice unless a petition is filed protesting against same within such time. If no * * * petition is filed, then the * * * order shall become final at that time. However, if twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified electors of any school district altered by the order * * * file a petition with the school board, within thirty (30) days after the first publication of the notice, protesting against the alteration of the district, then an election shall be called and held, on order of the school board, by the county election commission(s), after publication of legal notice of the election, which * * * election shall be held within thirty (30) days after the first publication of the notice of the election. At the election the question shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the district or districts in which a petition is filed as to whether or not the district or districts shall be altered as provided in the * * * order of the school board. If a majority of those voting in the election in each district affected and from which a petition is filed * * * vote in favor of the order of the school board, then the order shall become final. If a majority of those voting in the election in any district from which a petition is filed * * * vote against the order of the school board, then the order shall be void and of no effect and no further attempt to make the proposed change in the district shall be made for a period of at least two (2) years after the date of the election.

(2) When the orders of all boards adopting the new lines have been entered and are final, all orders shall be submitted to and considered by the State Board of Education as prescribed in Section 37-7-113. If the new lines are approved by the State Board of Education, the new district lines shall be submitted to the Attorney General of the United States for preclearance or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for a declaratory judgment in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended. If the change in the school district lines are either precleared by the United States Department of Justice, or approved by the United States District Court, then the State Board of Education shall formally declare the new lines as the new boundaries of the school districts.

(3) If two (2) or more school districts determine that they wish to consolidate, the following actions shall be taken by the districts to perfect this consolidation: (a) Each board shall state its intent to consolidate with the other district or districts by passing a resolution of the board to that effect and spreading it on the minutes of the districts; and (b) each school board shall publish the order consolidating the districts in some newspaper having a general circulation in the district(s) once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks, which * * * order shall be duly certified by the president of the school board. The order so published shall contain a provision giving notice that the order shall become final thirty (30) days after the first publication of the notice unless a petition is filed protesting against same within that time. If no * * * petition is filed, then the * * * order shall become final on that date. However, if twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified electors of any one (1) of the school districts affected by the proposed consolidation * * * file a petition with the applicable school board, within thirty (30) days after the first publication of the notice, protesting against the consolidation of the district or districts, then an election shall be called and held in the school districts where petitions were filed, on order of the school board, by the county election commission(s), after publication of legal notice of the election, which * * * election shall be held within thirty (30) days after the first publication of the notice of the election. At the election the question shall be submitted to the qualified electors of any district or districts in which petitions were filed as to whether or not the district or districts shall be consolidated as provided in the * * * order of the school boards. If a majority of those voting in the election * * * vote in favor of the order of the school boards, then the order shall become final. If less than a majority of the electors of any single school district vote in favor of the adoption of the proposed consolidation, that school district shall not participate in any voluntary consolidation as authorized in this subsection, and the proposed consolidation plan adopted by the districts shall be void.

After the order of the local school boards becomes final, it shall be submitted to and considered by the State Board of Education. If approved by the State Board of Education, the consolidation shall be submitted by the local school boards to the appropriate federal agencies for approval. After all preclearance has been received, the State Board of Education shall declare the new boundaries of the consolidated school district and all action shall proceed as outlined under law using the new boundaries.

Upon preclearance of the consolidation, all school boards shall approve a joint resolution for the election of five (5) new board members from single member districts as provided by law. These elections shall be scheduled before May 1 of the year in which the consolidation is to become effective. The new consolidated district shall become effective on July 1 of that same year. The superintendent of any district created through consolidation shall be appointed * * *. The superintendent shall begin work as the superintendent on July 1 of the year when the consolidation becomes effective. The order to consolidate shall invalidate the contracts of the superintendents of the preceding districts * * *. The order to consolidate shall invalidate the term of any school board member after July 1 of that year whether they are elected or appointed. Any school board member from any school district may be eligible to run for election to the new consolidated school board.

Each school board shall be responsible for establishing the contracts for teachers and principals for the next school year with the consultation of the successor school board if they have been selected at the time those decisions are to be made. The selection of administrator in the central administration office shall be the responsibility of the successor school board. No existing dates for renewal of contracts shall invalidate the responsibility of the successor school board in taking that action. The successor school board may enter into these contracts at any time following their election, but no later than July 1 of that year. It shall also be the responsibility of the successor school board to prepare and approve the budget of the new district. The successor school board may use staff from the existing districts to prepare the budget. The school board may approve the budget before the July 1 date and shall follow the time line established for budget preparation under the law. If either district at the time of consolidation have more liabilities than assets, then the successor school board may levy an ad valorem tax upon the taxable property in the territory of the district where the deficit exists, a tax not to exceed five percent (5%) of the existing tax levy for the sole purpose of reducing the deficit. When the deficit is eliminated, then the tax levy shall be terminated. Any taxes levied to bring about the equalization of funding, to equalize pay scales or levied in the territory of a newly created district where a deficit exists, shall constitute a "new program" for the purposes of ad valorem tax limitations as prescribed in Sections 27-39-321 and 37-57-107.

SECTION 13. Section 37-7-725, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-7-725. (1) When a special municipal separate school district embraces and includes all of the territory of the county, then the office of county superintendent of education in that county shall be abolished and discontinued in that county * * *. In addition, the superintendent of the special municipal separate school district shall thereafter perform and discharge all duties that would otherwise devolve upon the county superintendent of education under the provisions of any applicable statute of this state, and, for that purpose, the superintendent of the special municipal separate school district shall have and be vested with all power and authority conferred by law upon the county superintendents of education.

(2) This section shall stand repealed on January 1, 2012.

SECTION 14. Section 37-9-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-23. The superintendent shall enter into a contract with each assistant superintendent, principal, licensed employee and person anticipating graduation from an approved teacher education program or the issuance of a proper license before October 15 or February 15, as the case may be, who is elected and approved for employment by the school board. The contracts shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the State Board of Education and shall be executed in duplicate with one (1) copy to be retained by the appropriate superintendent and one (1) copy to be retained by the principal, licensed employee or person recommended for a licensed position contracted with. The contract shall show the name of the district, the length of the school term, the position held (whether an assistant superintendent, principal or licensed employee), the scholastic years that it covers, the total amount of the annual salary and how same is payable. The amount of salary to be shown in the contract shall be the amount that has been fixed and determined by the school board, but, as to the licensed employees paid in whole or in part with minimum education program funds, the salary shall not be less than that required under the provisions of Chapter 19 of this title. The contract entered into with any person recommended for a licensed position who is anticipating either graduation from an approved teacher education program before September 1 or December 31, as the case may be, or the issuance of a proper license before October 15 or February 15, as the case may be, shall be a conditional contract and shall include a provision stating that the contract will be null and void if, as specified in the contract, the contingency upon which the contract is conditioned has not occurred. If any superintendent, * * * principal, licensed employee or person recommended for a licensed position who has been elected and approved does not execute and return the contract within ten (10) days after same has been tendered to him for execution, then, at the option of the school board, the election of the licensed employee and the contract tendered to him shall be void and of no effect.

SECTION 15. Section 37-17-6, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-17-6. (1) The State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, shall establish and implement a permanent performance-based accreditation system, and all public elementary and secondary schools shall be accredited under this system.

(2) No later than June 30, 1995, the State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, shall require school districts to provide school classroom space that is air-conditioned as a minimum requirement for accreditation.

(3) (a) Beginning with the 1994-1995 school year, the State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, shall require that school districts employ certified school librarians according to the following formula:

Number of Students Number of Certified

Per School Library School Librarians

0 - 499 Students 1/2 Full-time Equivalent

Certified Librarian

500 or More Students 1 Full-time Certified

Librarian

(b) The State Board of Education, however, may increase the number of positions beyond the above requirements.

(c) The assignment of such school librarians to the particular schools shall be at the discretion of the local school district. No individual shall be employed as a certified school librarian without appropriate training and certification as a school librarian by the State Department of Education.

(d) School librarians in such district shall spend at least fifty percent (50%) of direct work time in a school library and shall devote no more than one-fourth (1/4) of the workday to administrative activities which are library related.

(e) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit any school district from employing more certified school librarians than are provided for in this section.

(f) Any additional mileage levied to fund school librarians required for accreditation under this subsection shall be included in the tax increase limitation set forth in Sections 37-57-105 and 37-57-107 and shall not be deemed a new program for purposes of the limitation.

(4) On or before December 31, 2002, the State Board of Education shall implement the performance-based accreditation system for school districts and for individual schools which shall include the following:

(a) High expectations for students and high standards for all schools, with a focus on the basic curriculum;

(b) Strong accountability for results with appropriate local flexibility for local implementation;

(d) Individual schools shall be held accountable for student growth and performance;

(e) Set annual performance standards for each of the schools of the state and measure the performance of each school against itself through the standard that has been set for it;

(f) A determination of which schools exceed their standards and a plan for providing recognition and rewards to such schools;

(g) A determination of which schools are failing to meet their standards and a determination of the appropriate role of the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education in providing assistance and initiating possible intervention. A failing district is a district which fails to meet both the absolute student achievement standards and the rate of annual growth expectation standards as set by the State Board of Education for two (2) consecutive years. The State Board of Education shall establish the level of benchmarks by which absolute student achievement and growth expectations shall be assessed. In setting the benchmarks for school districts, the State Board of Education may also take into account such factors as graduation rates, dropout rates, completion rates, the extent to which the school or district employs qualified teachers in every classroom, and any other factors deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education;

(h) Development of a comprehensive student assessment system to implement these requirements; and

(i) The State Board of Education may, based on a written request that contains specific reasons for requesting a waiver from the school districts affected by Hurricane Katrina of 2005, hold harmless school districts from assignment of district and school level accountability ratings for the 2005-2006 school year. The State Board of Education upon finding an extreme hardship in the school district may grant the request. It is the intent of the Legislature that all school districts maintain the highest possible academic standards and instructional programs in all schools as required by law and the State Board of Education.

The State Board of Education may continue to assign school district performance levels by using a number classification and may assign individual school performance levels by using a number classification to be consistent with school district performance levels.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require a nonpublic school which receives no local, state or federal funds for support to become accredited by the State Board of Education.

(6) The State Board of Education shall create an accreditation audit unit under the Commission on School Accreditation to determine whether schools are complying with accreditation standards.

(7) The State Board of Education shall be specifically authorized and empowered to withhold adequate education program fund allocations, whichever is applicable, to any public school district for failure to timely report student, school personnel and fiscal data necessary to meet state and/or federal requirements.

(8) Deleted.

(9) (a) Each local school district shall be required to develop and publish an annual report as prescribed by the State Board of Education. By November 1 of each year, as prescribed by the State Board of Education, the report shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county and posted on the school district's Web site in a printable format. The public notice shall include information on the report's availability on the district's Web site, with the Web site address, and the location(s) in the school district where a copy of the report can be obtained.

(b) The State Board of Education shall establish, for those school districts failing to meet accreditation standards, a program of development to be complied with in order to receive state funds, except as otherwise provided in subsection (14) of this section when the Governor has declared a state of emergency in a school district or as otherwise provided in Section 206, Mississippi Constitution of 1890. The state board, in establishing these standards, shall provide for notice to schools and sufficient time and aid to enable schools to attempt to meet these standards, unless procedures under subsection (14) of this section have been invoked.

(10) Beginning July 1, 1998, the State Board of Education shall be charged with the implementation of the program of development in each applicable school district as follows:

(a) Develop an impairment report for each district failing to meet accreditation standards in conjunction with school district officials;

(b) Notify any applicable school district failing to meet accreditation standards that it is on probation until corrective actions are taken or until the deficiencies have been removed. The local school district shall develop a corrective action plan to improve its deficiencies. For district academic deficiencies, the corrective action plan for each such school district shall be based upon a complete analysis of the following: student test data, student grades, student attendance reports, student dropout data, existence and other relevant data. The corrective action plan shall describe the specific measures to be taken by the particular school district and school to improve: (i) instruction; (ii) curriculum; (iii) professional development; (iv) personnel and classroom organization; (v) student incentives for performance; (vi) process deficiencies; and (vii) reporting to the local school board, parents and the community. The corrective action plan shall describe the specific individuals responsible for implementing each component of the recommendation and how each will be evaluated. All corrective action plans shall be provided to the State Board of Education as may be required. The decision of the State Board of Education establishing the probationary period of time shall be final;

(c) Offer, during the probationary period, technical assistance to the school district in making corrective actions. Beginning July 1, 1998, subject to the availability of funds, the State Department of Education shall provide technical and/or financial assistance to all such school districts in order to implement each measure identified in that district's corrective action plan through professional development and on-site assistance. Each such school district shall apply for and utilize all available federal funding in order to support its corrective action plan in addition to state funds made available under this paragraph;

(d) Assign department personnel or contract, in its discretion, with the institutions of higher learning or other appropriate private entities with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools to assist school districts;

(e) Provide for publication of public notice at least one time during the probationary period, in a newspaper published within the jurisdiction of the school district failing to meet accreditation standards, or if no newspaper is published therein, then in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The publication shall include the following: declaration of school system's status as being on probation; all details relating to the impairment report; and other information as the State Board of Education deems appropriate. Public notices issued under this section shall be subject to Section 13-3-31 and not contrary to other laws regarding newspaper publication.

(11) (a) If the recommendations for corrective action are not taken by the local school district or if the deficiencies are not removed by the end of the probationary period, the Commission on School Accreditation shall conduct a hearing to allow such affected school district to present evidence or other reasons why its accreditation should not be withdrawn. Subsequent to its consideration of the results of such hearing, the Commission on School Accreditation shall be authorized, with the approval of the State Board of Education, to withdraw the accreditation of a public school district, and issue a request to the Governor that a state of emergency be declared in that district.

(b) If the State Board of Education and the Commission on School Accreditation determine that an extreme emergency situation exists in a school district which jeopardizes the safety, security or educational interests of the children enrolled in the schools in that district and such emergency situation is believed to be related to a serious violation or violations of accreditation standards or state or federal law, or when a school district meets the State Board of Education's definition of a failing school district for two (2) consecutive full school years, the State Board of Education may request the Governor to declare a state of emergency in that school district. For purposes of this paragraph, such declarations of a state of emergency shall not be limited to those instances when a school district's impairments are related to a lack of financial resources, but also shall include serious failure to meet minimum academic standards, as evidenced by a continued pattern of poor student performance.

(c) Whenever the Governor declares a state of emergency in a school district in response to a request made under paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection, the State Board of Education may take one or more of the following actions:

(i) Declare a state of emergency, under which some or all of state funds can be escrowed except as otherwise provided in Section 206, Constitution of 1890, until the board determines corrective actions are being taken or the deficiencies have been removed, or that the needs of students warrant the release of funds. Such funds may be released from escrow for any program which the board determines to have been restored to standard even though the state of emergency may not as yet be terminated for the district as a whole;

(ii) Override any decision of the local school board or superintendent of education, or both, concerning the management and operation of the school district, or initiate and make decisions concerning the management and operation of the school district;

(iii) Assign an interim conservator, or in its discretion, contract with a private entity with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools and school districts, who will have those powers and duties prescribed in subsection (14) of this section;

(iv) Grant transfers to students who attend this school district so that they may attend other accredited schools or districts in a manner which is not in violation of state or federal law;

(v) For states of emergency declared under paragraph (a) only, if the accreditation deficiencies are related to the fact that the school district is too small, with too few resources, to meet the required standards and if another school district is willing to accept those students, abolish that district and assign that territory to another school district or districts. If the school district has proposed a voluntary consolidation with another school district or districts, then if the State Board of Education finds that it is in the best interest of the pupils of the district for such consolidation to proceed, the voluntary consolidation shall have priority over any such assignment of territory by the State Board of Education;

(vi) For states of emergency declared under paragraph (b) only, reduce local supplements paid to school district employees, including, but not limited to, instructional personnel, assistant teachers and extracurricular activities personnel, if the district's impairment is related to a lack of financial resources, but only to an extent which will result in the salaries being comparable to districts similarly situated, as determined by the State Board of Education;

(vii) For states of emergency declared under paragraph (b) only, the State Board of Education may take such action as prescribed in Section 37-17-13.

(d) At such time as satisfactory corrective action has been taken in a school district in which a state of emergency has been declared, the State Board of Education may request the Governor to declare that the state of emergency no longer exists in the district.

(e) Not later than July 1 of each year, the State Department of Education shall develop an itemized accounting of the expenditures associated with the management of the conservator process with regard to each school district in which a conservator has been appointed, and an assessment as to the extent to which the conservator has achieved, or failed to achieve, the goals for which the conservator was appointed to guide the local school district.

(f) There is established a Mississippi Recovery School District within the State Department of Education under the management and supervision of a Deputy Superintendent who is appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education. The Mississippi Recovery School District shall provide leadership, management and oversight of all school districts that are subject to state conservatorship, as defined in Title 37, Chapters 17 and 18, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall have all the authority granted under these two (2) chapters. The Mississippi Department of Education, with the approval of the State Board of Education, shall develop policies for the operation and management of the Mississippi Recovery School District. The Deputy State Superintendent responsible for the Mississippi Recovery School District shall be authorized to oversee the administration of the Mississippi Recovery School District, supervise conservators assigned by the State Board of Education to a local school district, hear appeals from school districts under conservatorship that would normally be filed by students, parents or employees and heard by a local school board, which hearings on appeal shall be conducted in a prompt and timely manner in the school district from which the appeal originated in order to ensure * * * the ability of appellants, other parties and witnesses to appeal without undue burden of travel costs or loss of time from work, and perform other related duties as assigned by the State Superintendent of Public Education.

(12) Upon the declaration of a state of emergency in a school district under subsection (11) of this section, the Commission on School Accreditation shall be responsible for public notice at least once a week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published within the jurisdiction of the school district failing to meet accreditation standards, or if no newspaper is published therein, then in a newspaper having a general circulation therein. The size of such notice shall be no smaller than one-fourth (1/4) of a standard newspaper page and shall be printed in bold print. If a conservator has been appointed for the school district, such notice shall begin as follows: "By authority of Section 37-17-6, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, adopted by the Mississippi Legislature during the 1991 Regular Session, this school district (name of school district) is * * * placed under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Education acting through its appointed conservator (name of conservator)."

The notice also shall include, in the discretion of the State Board of Education, any or all details relating to the school district's emergency status, including the declaration of a state of emergency in the school district and a description of the district's impairment deficiencies, conditions of any conservatorship and corrective actions recommended and being taken. Public notices issued under this section shall be subject to Section 13-3-31 and not contrary to other laws regarding newspaper publication.

Upon termination of the state of emergency in a school district, the Commission on School Accreditation shall cause notice to be published in the school district in the same manner provided in this section, to include any or all details relating to the corrective action taken in the school district which resulted in the termination of the state of emergency.

(13) The State Board of Education or the Commission on School Accreditation shall have the authority to require school districts to produce the necessary reports, correspondence, financial statements, and any other documents and information necessary to fulfill the requirements of this section.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant any individual, corporation, board or conservator the authority to levy taxes except in accordance with presently existing statutory provisions.

(14) (a) Whenever the Governor declares a state of emergency in a school district in response to a request made under subsection (11) of this section, the State Board of Education, in its discretion, may assign an interim conservator to the school district, or in its discretion, may contract with an appropriate private entity with experience in the academic, finance and other operational functions of schools and school districts, who will be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the school district, including, but not limited to, the following activities:

(i) Approving or disapproving all financial obligations of the district, including, but not limited to, the employment, termination, nonrenewal and reassignment of all licensed and nonlicensed personnel, contractual agreements and purchase orders, and approving or disapproving all claim dockets and the issuance of checks; in approving or disapproving employment contracts of superintendents, assistant superintendents or principals, the interim conservator shall not be required to comply with the time limitations prescribed in Sections 37-9-15 and 37-9-105;

(ii) Supervising the day-to-day activities of the district's staff, including reassigning the duties and responsibilities of personnel in a manner which, in the determination of the conservator, will best suit the needs of the district;

(iii) Reviewing the district's total financial obligations and operations and making recommendations to the district for cost savings, including, but not limited to, reassigning the duties and responsibilities of staff;

(iv) Attending all meetings of the district's school board and administrative staff;

(v) Approving or disapproving all athletic, band and other extracurricular activities and any matters related to those activities;

(vi) Maintaining a detailed account of recommendations made to the district and actions taken in response to those recommendations;

(vii) Reporting periodically to the State Board of Education on the progress or lack of progress being made in the district to improve the district's impairments during the state of emergency; and

(viii) Appointing a parent advisory committee, comprised of parents of students in the school district, which may make recommendations to the conservator concerning the administration, management and operation of the school district.

Except when, in the determination of the State Board of Education, the school district's impairment is related to a lack of financial resources, the cost of the salary of the conservator and any other actual and necessary costs related to the conservatorship paid by the State Department of Education shall be reimbursed by the local school district from funds other than adequate education program funds. The department shall submit an itemized statement to the superintendent of the local school district for reimbursement purposes, and any unpaid balance may be withheld from the district's adequate education program funds.

At such time as the Governor, pursuant to the request of the State Board of Education, declares that the state of emergency no longer exists in a school district, the powers and responsibilities of the interim conservator assigned to such district shall cease.

(b) In order to provide loans to school districts under a state of emergency which have impairments related to a lack of financial resources, the School District Emergency Assistance Fund is created as a special fund in the State Treasury into which monies may be transferred or appropriated by the Legislature from any available public education funds.

The State Board of Education may loan monies from the School District Emergency Assistance Fund to a school district that is under a state of emergency in such amounts, as determined by the board, which are necessary to correct the district's impairments related to a lack of financial resources. The loans shall be evidenced by an agreement between the school district and the State Board of Education and shall be repayable in principal, without necessity of interest, to the State General Fund or the Education Enhancement Fund, depending on the source of funding for such loan, by the school district from any allowable funds that are available. The total amount loaned to the district shall be due and payable within five (5) years after the impairments related to a lack of financial resources are corrected. If a school district fails to make payments on the loan in accordance with the terms of the agreement between the district and the State Board of Education, the State Department of Education, in accordance with rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education, may withhold that district's adequate education program funds in an amount and manner that will effectuate repayment consistent with the terms of the agreement; such funds withheld by the department shall be deposited into the State General Fund or the Education Enhancement Fund, as the case may be.

The State Board of Education shall develop a protocol that will outline the performance standards and requisite time line deemed necessary for extreme emergency measures. If the State Board of Education determines that an extreme emergency exists, simultaneous with the powers exercised in this subsection, it shall take immediate action against all parties responsible for the affected school districts having been determined to be in an extreme emergency. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, initiating civil actions to recover funds and criminal actions to account for criminal activity. Any funds recovered by the State Auditor or the State Board of Education from the surety bonds of school officials or from any civil action brought under this subsection shall be applied toward the repayment of any loan made to a school district hereunder.

(15) In the event a majority of the membership of the school board of any school district resigns from office, the State Board of Education shall be authorized to assign an interim conservator, who shall be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the school district until such time as new board members are selected or the Governor declares a state of emergency in that school district under subsection (11), whichever occurs first. In such case, the State Board of Education, acting through the interim conservator, shall have all powers which were held by the previously existing school board, and may take such action as prescribed in Section 37-17-13 and/or one or more of the actions authorized in this section.

(16) (a) If the Governor declares a state of emergency in a school district, the State Board of Education may take all such action pertaining to that school district as is authorized under subsection (11) or (14) of Section 37-17-6, including the appointment of an interim conservator. The State Board of Education shall also have the authority to issue a written request with documentation to the Governor asking that the office of the superintendent of such school district be subject to recall. If the Governor declares that the office of the superintendent of such school district is subject to recall, the local school board * * * shall take the following action:

* * *

* * * The name of the superintendent shall be submitted by the president of the local school board at the next regular meeting of the school board for retention in office or dismissal from office. If a majority of the school board voting on the question vote against retaining the superintendent in office, a vacancy shall exist which shall be filled as provided by law, otherwise the superintendent shall remain in office for the duration of his employment contract.

(b) The State Board of Education may issue a written request with documentation to the Governor asking that the membership of the school board of such school district shall be subject to recall. Whenever the Governor declares that the membership of the school board is subject to recall, the county election commission or the local governing authorities, as the case may be, shall take the following action:

(i) If the members of the local school board are elected to office, in those years in which the specific member's office is not up for election, the name of the school board member shall be submitted by the State Board of Education to the county election commission, and the county election commission at a special election shall submit the question to the voters eligible to vote for the particular member's office within the county or school district, as the case may be, and such special election shall be held within sixty (60) days from notification by the State Board of Education. The ballot shall read substantially as follows:

"Members of the ______________ (here the title of the school district shall be inserted) School Board who are not up for election this year are subject to recall because of the school district's failure to meet critical accountability standards as defined in the letter of notification to the Governor from the State Board of Education. Shall the member of the school board representing this area, ____________ (here the name of the school board member holding the office shall be inserted), be retained in office? Yes _______ No _______"

If a majority of those voting on the question vote against retaining the member of the school board in office, a vacancy in that board member's office shall exist which shall be filled in the manner provided by law; otherwise, the school board member shall remain in office for the term of such office, and at the expiration of the term of office, the member shall be eligible for qualification and election to another term or terms of office. However, if a majority of the school board members are recalled in the special election, the Governor shall authorize the board of supervisors of the county in which the school district is situated to appoint members to fill the offices of the members recalled. The board of supervisors shall make such appointments in the manner provided by law for filling vacancies on the school board, and the appointed members shall serve until the office is filled at the next regular special election or general election.

(ii) If the local school board is an appointed school board, the name of all school board members shall be submitted as a collective board by the president of the municipal or county governing authority, as the case may be, at the next regular meeting of the governing authority for retention in office or dismissal from office. If a majority of the governing authority voting on the question vote against retaining the board in office, a vacancy shall exist in each school board member's office, which shall be filled as provided by law; otherwise, the members of the appointed school board shall remain in office for the duration of their term of appointment, and such members may be reappointed.

(iii) If the local school board is comprised of both elected and appointed members, the elected members shall be subject to recall in the manner provided in subparagraph (i) of this subsection, and the appointed members shall be subject to recall in the manner provided in subparagraph (ii).

(17) Beginning with the school district audits conducted for the 1997-1998 fiscal year, the State Board of Education, acting through the Commission on School Accreditation, shall require each school district to comply with standards established by the State Department of Audit for the verification of fixed assets and the auditing of fixed assets records as a minimum requirement for accreditation.

(18) Before December 1, 1999, the State Board of Education shall recommend a program to the Education Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate for identifying and rewarding public schools that improve or are high performing. The program shall be described by the board in a written report, which shall include criteria and a process through which improving schools and high-performing schools will be identified and rewarded.

The State Superintendent of Education and the State Board of Education also shall develop a comprehensive accountability plan to ensure that local school boards, superintendents, principals and teachers are held accountable for student achievement. A written report on the accountability plan shall be submitted to the Education Committees of both houses of the Legislature before December 1, 1999, with any necessary legislative recommendations.

(19) Before January 1, 2008, the State Board of Education shall evaluate and submit a recommendation to the Education Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate on inclusion of graduation rate and dropout rate in the school level accountability system.

(20) If a local school district is determined as failing and placed into conservatorship for reasons authorized by the provisions of this section, the conservator appointed to the district shall, within forty-five (45) days after being appointed, present a detailed and structured corrective action plan to move the local school district out of conservatorship status to the local school board and local superintendent of education if they have not been removed by the conservator, or if the board and superintendent have been removed, to the local governing authority of the municipality or county in which the school district under conservatorship is located. A copy of the conservator's corrective action plan shall also be filed with the State Board of Education.

SECTION 16. Section 37-17-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-17-13. (1) Whenever the Governor declares a state of emergency in a school district in response to a certification by the State Board of Education and the Commission on School Accreditation made under Section 37-17-6(11)(b), the State Board of Education, in addition to any actions taken under Section 37-17-6, may abolish the school district and assume control and administration of the schools formerly constituting the district, and appoint a conservator to carry out this purpose under the direction of the State Board of Education. In that case, the State Board of Education shall have all powers which were held by the previously existing school board, and the previously existing superintendent of schools or county superintendent of education, including, but not limited to, those enumerated in Section 37-7-301, and the authority to request tax levies from the appropriate governing authorities for the support of the schools and to receive and expend the tax funds as provided by Section 37-57-1 et seq., and Section 37-57-105 et seq.

(2) When a school district is abolished under this section, loans from the School District Emergency Assistance Fund may be made by the State Board of Education for the use and benefit of the schools formerly constituting the district in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 37-17-6(14) for such loans to the district. The abolition of a school district under this section shall not impair or release the property of that school district from liability for the payment of the loan indebtedness, and it shall be the duty of the appropriate governing authorities to levy taxes on the property of the district so abolished from year to year according to the terms of the indebtedness until same shall be fully paid.

(3) After a school district is abolished under this section, at such time as the State Board of Education determines that the impairments have been substantially corrected, the State Board of Education shall reconstitute, reorganize or change or alter the boundaries of the previously existing district; however, no partition or assignment of territory formerly included in the abolished district to one or more other school districts may be made by the State Board of Education without the consent of the school board of the school district to which such territory is to be transferred, such consent to be spread upon its minutes. At that time, the State Board of Education, in appropriate cases, shall notify the appropriate governing authority or authorities of its action and request them to provide for the election or appointment of school board members and the appointment of a superintendent or superintendents to govern the district or districts affected, in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 17. Section 37-18-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-18-7. (1) As part of the school improvement plan for a School At-Risk, a professional development plan shall be prepared for those school administrators, teachers or other employees who are identified by the evaluation team as needing improvement. The State Department of Education shall assist the School At-Risk in identifying funds necessary to fully implement the school improvement plan.

(2) (a) If a principal is deemed to be in need of improvement by the evaluation team, a professional development plan shall be developed for the principal, and the principal's full participation in the professional development plan shall be a condition of continued employment. The plan shall provide professional training in the roles and behaviors of an instructional leader and shall offer training specifically identified for that principal's needs. The principal of a School At-Risk may be assigned mentors who have demonstrated expertise as an exemplary-performing principal. Mentors shall make a personal time commitment to this process and may not be evaluators of the principals being mentored. The local school administration shall continue to monitor and evaluate all school personnel during this period, evaluate their professional development plans and make personnel decisions as appropriate.

(b) At the end of the second year, if a school continues to be a School At-Risk and a principal has been at that school for three (3) or more years, the administration shall recommend and the local school board shall dismiss the principal in a manner consistent with Section 37-9-59, and the State Board of Education may initiate the school district conservatorship process authorized under Section 37-17-6. If extenuating circumstances exist, such as the assignment of a principal at a School At-Risk for less than two (2) years, other options may be considered, subject to approval by the State Board of Education.

(3) (a) If a teacher is deemed to be in need of professional development by the independent evaluation team, that teacher shall be required to participate in a professional development plan. This plan will provide professional training and will be based on each teacher's specific needs and teaching assignments. The teacher's full participation in the professional development plan shall be required. This process shall be followed by a performance-based evaluation, which shall monitor the teacher's teaching skills and teaching behavior over a period of time. This monitoring shall include announced and unannounced reviews. Additionally, the teacher also may be assigned a mentor who has demonstrated expertise as a high-performing teacher.

(b) If, after one (1) year, the teacher fails to perform, the local school administration shall reevaluate the teacher's professional development plan, make any necessary adjustments to it, and require his participation in the plan for a second year.

(c) If, after the second year, the teacher fails to perform, the administration shall recommend and the local school board shall dismiss the teacher in a manner consistent with Section 37-9-59.

(4) (a) If the evaluation report reveals a school district central office problem, a superintendent of the school district having a School At-Risk shall be required to participate in a professional development plan. Additionally, the superintendent may be assigned mentors who are high-performing superintendents and have demonstrated expertise and knowledge of high-performing schools. The local school board will continue to evaluate the performance of the superintendent and his participation in a professional development plan, making appropriate revisions to the plan as needed.

(b) If a school continues to be a School At-Risk after a second year, the local school board may take one (1) of the following actions:

(i) Impose a cap on the superintendent's salary; or

(ii) Make any necessary adjustments to his professional development plan and require his continued participation in a plan.

(c) If a school continues to be designated a School At-Risk after three (3) years of implementing a school improvement plan the State Board of Education shall, or if more than fifty percent (50%) of the schools within the school district are designated as Schools At-Risk in any one (1) year the State Board of Education may, issue a written request with documentation to the Governor asking that the office of the superintendent of such school district be subject to recall. Whenever the Governor declares that the office of the superintendent of the school district is subject to recall, the local school board * * * shall take the following action:

* * *

* * * The name of the superintendent shall be submitted by the president of the local school board at the next regular meeting of the school board for retention in office or dismissal from office. If a majority of the school board voting on the question vote against retaining the superintendent in office, a vacancy shall exist which shall be filled as provided by law, otherwise, the superintendent shall remain in office for the duration of his employment contract.

(5) In the event a school continues to be designated a School At-Risk after three (3) years of implementing a school improvement plan the State Board of Education shall, or in the event that more than fifty percent (50%) of the schools within the school district are designated as Schools At-Risk in any one (1) year the State Board of Education may, issue a written request with documentation to the Governor that the membership of the school board of such school district shall be subject to recall. Whenever the Governor declares that the membership of the school board shall be subject to recall, the county election commission or the local governing authorities, as the case may be, shall take the following action:

(a) If the members of the local school board are elected to office, in those years in which the specific member's office is not up for election, the name of the school board member shall be submitted by the State Board of Education to the county election commission, and the county election commission at a special election shall submit the question to the voters eligible to vote for the particular member's office within the county or school district, as the case may be, and such special election shall be held within sixty (60) days from notification by the State Board of Education. The ballot shall read substantially as follows:

"Members of the _______________ (here the title of the school district shall be inserted) School Board who are not up for election this year are subject to recall because of the school district's continued designation as a School At-Risk. Shall the member of the school board representing this area, ______________ (here the name of the school board member holding the office shall be inserted), be retained in office? Yes _____ No _____"

(b) If the local school board is an appointed school board, the name of all school board members shall be submitted as a collective board by the president of the municipal or county governing authority, as the case may be, at the next regular meeting of the governing authority for retention in office or dismissal from office. If a majority of the governing authority voting on the question vote against retaining the board in office, a vacancy shall exist in each school board member's office, which shall be filled as provided by law; otherwise, the members of the appointed school board shall remain in office for the duration of their term of appointment, and such members may be reappointed.

(c) If the local school board is comprised of both elected and appointed members, the elected members shall be subject to recall in the manner provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection. Appointed members shall be subject to recall in the manner provided in paragraph (b).

(6) In the event a school continues to be designated a School At-Risk after three (3) years of implementing a school improvement plan, or in the event that more than fifty percent (50%) of the schools within the school district are designated as Schools At-Risk in any one (1) year, the State Board of Education may request that the Governor declare a state of emergency in that school district. Upon the declaration of the state of emergency by the Governor, the State Board of Education may take all such action for dealing with school districts as is authorized under subsection (11) or (14) of Section 37-17-6, including the appointment of an interim conservator.

(7) The State Department of Education shall make a semiannual report to the State Board of Education identifying the number and names of schools classified as Schools At-Risk, which shall include a description of the deficiencies identified and the actions recommended and implemented. The department shall also notify the State Board of Education of any School At-Risk which has successfully completed their improvement plans and shall notify the Governor and the Legislature of such school's progress.

(8) The State Board of Education shall direct and provide comprehensive staff development training for school administrators and teachers on the new requirements of this chapter. Any new assessment instruments to be used in conjunction with any evaluation required by this chapter shall be made available for review by teachers, administrators and other staff. Prior to evaluation of individual teachers, administrators and other staff pre-evaluation interviews will be conducted. Likewise, after any evaluation is complete, post-evaluation interviews will be conducted. During such post-interviews, evaluators shall identify and discuss the following: teaching techniques used, teaching strengths and weaknesses and an overall assessment of performance.

(9) No later than July 1 of each year the State Board of Education shall report to the State Legislature and the public at large:

(a) An itemized accounting of the use of state funds to provide technical, legal and financial assistance to each School At-Risk, and to such schools which had been designated as Schools At-Risk within the previous three (3) years, if such schools received such assistance at any time during the previous three (3) years;

(b) An explanation of the problems sought to be addressed in each such school receiving this assistance and for which such expenditure of funds was undertaken;

(c) The actions taken in each school district to utilize the funds to address the problems identified in paragraph (b) immediately above;

(d) An evaluation of the impact of the effort to address the problems identified;

(e) An assessment of what further actions need to be undertaken to address these problems, if such problems have not been entirely alleviated; and

(f) An assessment of the impact which Chapter 421, Laws of 1999, and Chapter 610, Laws of 2000, are having on the educational goals which these statutes sought to address.

SECTION 18. Section 37-43-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-43-39. No teacher in any of the schools of the state, and no county or municipal superintendent of schools, and no person officially connected with the government of or direction of any school shall, during his or her employment as the superintendent or * * * teacher, act as agent or attorney for any textbook publishing company selling textbooks in this state. If, after * * * employment as the superintendent or a teacher, any person filling that position accepts the agency or attorneyship of any textbook publishing company, the acceptance of the agency or attorneyship shall work a forfeiture of the * * * position as superintendent or teacher held at the time of the acceptance of the agency or attorneyship.

SECTION 19. Section 23-15-297, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

23-15-297. All candidates upon entering the race for party nominations for office shall first pay to the proper officer as provided for in Section 23-15-299 for each primary election the following amounts:

(a) Candidates for Governor not to exceed Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00).

(b) Candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, State Highway Commissioner and State Public Service Commissioner, not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00).

(d) Candidates for State Senator, State Representative, sheriff, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, tax assessor, tax collector, county attorney * * * and board of supervisors, not to exceed Fifteen Dollars ($15.00).

(e) Candidates for county surveyor, county coroner, justice court judge and constable, not to exceed Ten Dollars ($10.00).

(f) Candidates for United States Senator, not to exceed Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00).

(g) Candidates for United States Representative, not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00).

SECTION 20. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall 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 21. Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after passage, or the date Sections 1 through 6 are effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, whichever is later. Sections 7 through 19 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010, or the date Sections 7 through 19 are effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, whichever is later.