Mississippi Uniform School Law

Miss. Code Ann. tit. 37, ch. 6
in effect

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-1 Short title.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Mississippi Uniform School Law of 1986.”

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-3 Application of chapter; definitions; construction of references to “administrative superintendent.”

From and after July 1, 1987, all school districts in the State of Mississippi shall have the same prerogatives, powers, duties and privileges as provided in this chapter. As used in this chapter, the term “school board” shall mean (a) the county board of education of any countywide school district in this state; and (b) the board of trustees of any municipal separate, special municipal separate, consolidated or line consolidated school district in this state. As used in this chapter, the term “superintendent” or “superintendent of schools” shall mean (a) the county superintendent of education of any countywide school district in this state whose duties require the supervision of students; and (b) the superintendent of any municipal separate, special municipal separate, consolidated or line consolidated school district in this state. As used in this chapter, the term “administrative superintendent” shall mean those countywide school superintendents who do not supervise any instructional facility or students and whose duties are prescribed in Section 37-9-16, Mississippi Code of 1972. This subsection shall stand repealed from and after January 1, 1992, and after such date all references to the “administrative superintendent” in this chapter shall be construed to mean the “superintendent” or “superintendent of schools” as defined in subsection (3) of this section.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-5 School district as political subdivision; name.

Each school district in the state shall be a political subdivision with the name of the district being “_______________School District.”

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-7 School board as governing body.

Each school district shall be governed by a school board consisting of five (5) members, selected in the manner provided by law.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-9 President and secretary of school board; quorum; minutes; voting or abstaining on questions.

The school board of all school districts shall organize by the election of a president and a secretary from its membership whose duty it shall be to make reports and to perform all other duties required by law. A majority of the members of the school board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the school board showing (a) the members present and absent; (b) the date, time and place of the meeting; (c) an accurate recording of any final actions taken at such meeting; (d) a record by individual member of any votes taken at such meeting; and (e) any other information that the school board requests to be reflected in the minutes. Each member of the school board present shall either vote or abstain on every question upon which a vote is taken at such meeting. All action taken by a school board shall become official at the time it is taken. All minutes of the school board shall be signed by the president of the board, shall be attested by the secretary of the board and shall be adopted by the board at the next regular meeting, or within thirty (30) working days, whichever occurs later.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-11 Regular meetings; special meetings.

The school boards of all school districts shall meet regularly at such time and at such place as shall be designated by an order entered upon the minutes thereof. Special meetings of such boards shall be held upon the call of the president thereof, or upon the call of a majority of the members thereof.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-13 Per diem allowance; expenses and mileage; meeting attendance requirements.

Each person serving as a member of the school board of any school district shall receive per diem in the amount of Sixty-seven Dollars ($67.00) for no more than thirty-six (36) meetings of the school board during any one (1) fiscal year or, in his or her discretion, irrevocably may choose to receive as compensation for his or her services an annual salary in the amount of Two Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($2,400.00), which choice shall remain in force for all successive terms or periods of service of that member. The receipt of the compensation shall not entitle any member of a school board to receive or be eligible for any state employee group insurance, retirement or other fringe benefits. Each member shall be reimbursed for the necessary expenses and mileage in attending meetings of the school board. In addition to the foregoing, all members may be reimbursed for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the further performance of their duties, including attendance at any mandatory school board training session or at regional and national education meetings, when such mileage and other expenses are authorized by the board prior to the date on which they occur. Detailed vouchers shall be submitted for reimbursement for all expenses authorized by this section. Such reimbursement shall be in accordance with Section 25-3-41. Such expenses shall be paid on order of the school board by pay certificates issued by the superintendent of the school district involved against the funds available for payment of the administrative expense of the district. If a member of a school board misses twenty percent (20%) or more of the meetings of the school board during a calendar year, except for absences caused by required military duty, the member must reimburse the school district that portion of the total salary paid to the member that year which is proportionate to the number of meetings missed by the member in relation to the total number of school board meetings held during that year. For purposes of this subsection, consideration may be given only to meetings of which public notice is required. Before February 1 of each year, the president of each local school board shall submit a report to the State Board of Education containing the names of any members of the school board who missed twenty percent (20%) or more of the school board meetings during the preceding calendar year.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-6-15 Surety bond for school board member; premiums.

Before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office, each member of the school board shall give a surety bond in the penal sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), with sufficient surety, to be payable, conditioned and approved in the manner provided by law. The school board may execute a blanket surety bond for each school district official and employee (including school business managers and any other employee who receipts and/or disburses school district funds) in the penalty of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), unless a different penalty is prescribed by statute, to be payable, conditioned and approved in the manner provided by law. The premium on said bond shall be paid out of the school district maintenance fund.

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