Bill Text: MS HB32 | 2017 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Mississippi House Bill 32 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: School superintendents; require appointment of in the event of vacancy in elected office of before January 1, 2019.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-01-17 - Approved by Governor [HB32 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2017-HB32-Enrolled.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Moore

House Bill 32

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-9-13, 37-9-25, 37-5-61, 37-5-71, AND 37-5-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH AN ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN THE EVENT A VACANCY IN OFFICE OCCURS BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2019; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-9-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-13. (1) Each school district shall have a superintendent of schools, selected in the manner provided by law. No person shall be eligible to the office of superintendent of schools unless such person shall hold a valid administrator's license issued by the State Department of Education and shall have had not less than four (4) years of classroom or administrative experience.

(2) From and after January 1, 2019, in all public school districts, the local school board shall appoint the superintendent of schools of such district. At the expiration of the term of any county superintendent of education elected at the November 2015 general election, the county superintendent of education of said county shall not be elected but shall thereafter be appointed by the local school board in the manner provided in Section 37-9-25. However, in the event that a vacancy in the office of the superintendent of schools elected at the November 2015 general election shall occur before January 1, 2019, the office of superintendent of school shall immediately become an appointed position, and the local school board shall appoint the superintendent of the school district. The superintendent of schools shall have the general powers and duties to administer the schools within his district as prescribed in Section 37-9-14 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 2. 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, unless such superintendent is elected at the November 2015 general election, 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. However, in the event that a vacancy in the office of the superintendent of schools elected at the November 2015 general election shall occur before January 1, 2019, the local school board shall then appoint the superintendent of the school district and enter into contract with the appointee for a period not to exceed three (3) scholastic years. 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 minimum 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 3. 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) Said 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, said superintendent shall be the director of all schools in the county school district which are outside the municipal separate school districts.

(4) Said 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. However, in the event that a vacancy in the office of the superintendent of schools elected at the November 2015 general election shall occur before January 1, 2019, the office of superintendent of school shall immediately become an appointed position, and the local school board shall appoint the superintendent of the school district.

SECTION 4. Section 37-5-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-5-71. (1) The county superintendents of education shall be elected in the manner prescribed by the provisions of this chapter, unless the school district is being reconstituted as provided in Section 37-17-13 or unless such office be made appointive as provided in this chapter, in which case the county superintendent shall be appointed by the county board of education or by the trustees of a separate school district embracing an entire county with a population of fifteen thousand (15,000) or less, as provided in subsection (2) of Section 37-7-203. However, in the event that a vacancy in the elective office of the superintendent of schools elected at the November 2015 general election shall occur before January 1, 2019, the office of superintendent of school shall immediately become an appointed position, and the local school board shall appoint the superintendent of the school district. In all cases he shall have such qualifications as prescribed by Section 37-9-13 and receive such compensation as established under Section 37-9-37.

(2) All qualified electors residing within any municipal separate or special municipal separate school district shall not vote in the election for the county superintendent of education:

(a) In all counties of the second class which have a population, according to the 1960 federal decennial census of at least thirty-three thousand (33,000) and less than thirty-four thousand (34,000), and having a city located therein which is the Southern Division of the A.T.&S.F. Railroad Company;

(b) In all counties of the fourth class which have a population, according to the 1960 federal decennial census, in excess of twenty-six thousand (26,000) and less than twenty-seven thousand (27,000), and having located therein the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science;

(c) In all counties of the first class which have a population, according to the 1960 federal decennial census, in excess of forty-six thousand (46,000) and less than forty-seven thousand (47,000), and having located therein the Mississippi University for Women;

(d) In any county bordering on the Mississippi Sound and having a population in excess of one hundred thousand (100,000), according to the 1960 federal decennial census, and having an assessed valuation in excess of Seventy Million Dollars ($70,000,000.00);

(e) In any county having a population in excess of eight thousand (8,000) and less than nine thousand (9,000), and having an assessed valuation in excess of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) but less than Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00) in 1960;

(f) In any county having a population in excess of twenty-two thousand (22,000) and less than twenty-three thousand (23,000) in 1960, and having a total assessed valuation in excess of Thirteen Million Dollars ($13,000,000.00) in 1960;

(g) In any county having a population in excess of fifty-nine thousand (59,000) but less than sixty thousand (60,000), according to the 1960 federal decennial census;

(h) In any county bordered on the east by the Alabama line and on the south by the Mississippi Sound;

(i) In any county where Mississippi Highway 35 crosses U.S. Highway 80 and whose population, according to the 1960 regular census, was between twenty-one thousand (21,000) and twenty-two thousand (22,000), and in which there are located four (4) or more chicken packing plants, one (1) zipper plant and one or more factories manufacturing Sunbeam electrical appliances;

(j) In any county having a population of twenty-six thousand one hundred ninety-eight (26,198) according to the 1970 census wherein Highways 51 and 84 intersect;

(k) In any county having a municipal separate school district lying therein, having a population in excess of twenty-one thousand (21,000) but less than twenty-one thousand five hundred (21,500), according to the 1960 decennial census, and having a combined assessed valuation in 1963 in excess of Sixteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($16,900,000.00) but less than Seventeen Million Dollars ($17,000,000.00) according to the State Tax Commission's compilation;

(l) In any county where Mississippi Highway 15 crosses Mississippi Highway 16, whose population was more than twenty thousand (20,000) and less than twenty-one thousand (21,000), according to the regular 1960 census, and within which there is located a Choctaw Indian reservation and school operated by the United States government;

(m) In any county where U.S. Highway 45W Alternate intersects Mississippi Highway 50, and having a population of eighteen thousand nine hundred thirty-three (18,933), according to the 1960 federal census;

(n) In any county having a population in excess of forty thousand five hundred (40,500), according to the 1960 federal decennial census, wherein U.S. Highways 78 and 45 intersect, and wherein there is a United States fish hatchery;

(o) In any county being traversed by Mississippi Highway 15 and U.S. Interstate Highway 20;

(p) In all counties wherein there is located a national military park and a national cemetery;

(q) In any county where U.S. Highway 82 crosses U.S. Interstate Highway 55 and having a population of twelve thousand three hundred eighty-seven (12,387) according to the 1990 federal decennial census;

(r) In any county where U.S. Highway 49E and U.S. Highway 82 intersect, and having a population of thirty-seven thousand three hundred forty-one (37,341) according to the 1990 federal decennial census;

(s) In any county bordering the Mississippi River on the west and with a population of less than thirty-one thousand (31,000), according to the 2000 federal decennial census, and with a county seat in which U.S. Highway 49 and U.S. Highway 61 intersect.

In any such county, however, the county superintendent of education may be a resident of a municipal separate school district or special municipal separate school district.

(3) The qualified electors residing within the municipal separate school districts shall not participate in the election of the county superintendent of education:

(a) In any county having a population of more than twenty-seven thousand (27,000) and less than twenty-eight thousand (28,000) and containing therein a municipality having a population in excess of three thousand (3,000), according to the 1960 federal decennial census;

(b) In any Class 1 county wherein is located a state-supported university and a National Guard camp, and in which Interstate Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 49 intersect;

(c) In any Class 4 county having two (2) judicial districts, wherein is partially located a national forest, and wherein Mississippi Highways 8 and 15 intersect;

(d) In any Class 2 county, the southern boundary of which partially borders on the State of Louisiana, traversed by U.S. Highway 98 which intersects Mississippi Highway 13, with a land area of five hundred fifty (550) square miles and having a population of twenty-three thousand two hundred ninety-three (23,293) in the 1960 federal decennial census;

(e) In any county bordering on the Gulf of Mexico or the Mississippi Sound having therein a test facility operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

(f) In any county having a population in excess of twenty-seven thousand one hundred seventy-nine (27,179) according to the 1970 federal decennial census, wherein U.S. Highways 45 and 72 intersect; and

(g) In any Class 1 county bordering on the Pearl River in which U.S. Highway 80 intersects Mississippi Highway 18 and having a population, according to the federal decennial census of 1970, of forty-three thousand nine hundred thirty-three (43,933).

(4) The county superintendent of education, with the approval of the county board of education by its first having adopted a resolution of approval and spread upon its minutes, shall be elected from the county at large, exclusive of the municipal separate school district boundaries:

(a) In any county bordering on the State of Tennessee having a land area of seven hundred ten (710) square miles, wherein is located part of a national forest, and wherein U.S. Highway 78 and Mississippi Highway 7 intersect;

(b) In any Class 4 county wherein is located the state's oldest state-supported university, in which Mississippi Highways 6 and 7 intersect. Provided, however, that if the method of selecting the county superintendent of education in such county is changed from an elective method to an appointive method, pursuant to the provisions of Section 37-5-68, this paragraph (b) shall stand repealed; and

(c) In any county having a population in excess of seventeen thousand (17,000) and less than eighteen thousand (18,000), according to the 1970 federal decennial census, wherein Mississippi Highways 6 and 9 intersect.

(5) In any county having a municipality of between forty-nine thousand (49,000) and fifty thousand (50,000) population according to the 1960 federal census, and adjoining the Alabama line, wherein U.S. Highways 80 and 45 intersect, the qualified electors residing within any municipal separate school district shall not participate in the election of the county superintendent of education, and such county superintendent of education shall not be a resident of a municipal separate school district.

(6) In any county traversed by the Natchez Trace Parkway wherein U.S. Highway 45 and Mississippi Highway 4 intersect and having a population of seventeen thousand nine hundred forty-nine (17,949) according to the 1960 federal census, the qualified electors residing within any municipal separate school district shall not participate in the election of the county superintendent of education, and such county superintendent of education shall not be a resident of a municipal separate school district.

SECTION 5. Section 37-5-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-5-75. If a vacancy shall occur in the elective office of the county superintendent of education elected at the November 2015 general election before January 1, 2019, the office of superintendent of school shall immediately become an appointed position, and such vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the county board of education. * * * In such case the person so appointed by the county board of education shall hold office * * * under the terms and for the duration of the employment contracted issued by the board of education under the authority of Section 37-9-25.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.