§ 70-5-107B. Expansion of a board of education - Chair and other positions.

A.  The board of education of a district with an average daily membership (ADM) of more than thirty thousand (30,000) students may be expanded to add a member who shall be elected at large for a term of four (4) years and who shall serve as chair of the board.  The chair of the board position may be added upon a majority vote of the district board of education to add the position.  If the board opts to add the chair of the board position, the chair of the board shall be elected at the next regular election of board members, held pursuant to Section 13A-103 of Title 26 of the Oklahoma Statutes, following the decision of the board.

B.  The chair of the board of education shall possess the same qualifications as required for other board members, shall assume office as provided for other members of the board of education, shall be a full, voting member of the board, and shall count for purposes of a quorum or a majority, or other requirements based on number of members on the board.  The chair shall preside at all meetings of the board of education in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure which have been adopted by a majority vote of the board, provided that, in the absence of rules adopted by the board, the chair shall determine and set forth the rules of parliamentary procedure that shall apply at board meetings; assemble and control the agenda for board meetings, provided that, upon approval of a majority of the members of the board, an item shall be placed on the agenda for the same or a subsequent meeting, in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; appoint all committees whose appointment is not otherwise provided for by law; and shall sign all warrants ordered by the board of education to be drawn upon the treasurer for school money.  The chair of the board shall possess all powers otherwise provided by law for a member of a board of education, all powers provided by law for the president of a board of education, and such other lawful powers as may be conferred upon the chair by majority vote of the board. The chair shall receive compensation and benefits as conferred upon other members of the district board of education.

C.  For a district in which a chair of the board has been elected, the district board of education, during the meeting at which the chair of the board assumes office, shall elect a vice-chair who shall serve a one-year term and until a successor is elected and qualified.  The vice-chair shall perform all duties of the chair of the board in case of the chair’s absence or disability.  The board shall also elect clerks and deputies as provided in Section 5-119 of this title.  The board shall not elect a president or vice president.

D.  If a district board of education is expanded to include the chair of the board position, the chair of the board position shall not be abolished except by a majority vote of the voters of the school district voting on such question at a special election called for that purpose.  The question may be presented only upon a resolution adopted by three-fourths (3/4) of the board membership or upon petition for an election on the question, that complies with the requirements for petition and election set forth in Section 7-101 of this title.  If the question is approved, the chair of the board position shall be abolished at the end of the term of the chair who holds the office when the election is held or upon the chair’s resignation or vacancy of the office following the election on the question.

Added by Laws 2000, c. 280, § 1, emerg. eff. June 1, 2000.  Amended by Laws 2001, c. 413, § 3, eff. July 1, 2001.