Article 2. General Provisions of California Education Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 21. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2.
(a) Every school district shall be under the control of a
board of school trustees or a board of education.
(b) The governing board of each school district shall prescribe
and enforce rules not inconsistent with law, or with the rules
prescribed by the State Board of Education, for its own government.
(a) Except as otherwise provided, the governing board of a
school district shall consist of five members elected at large by the
qualified voters of the district. The terms of the members shall,
except as otherwise provided, be for four years and staggered so that
as nearly as practicable one-half of the members shall be elected in
each odd-numbered year.
(b) A unified school district may have a governing board of seven
members in the event the proposal for unification has specified a
governing board of seven members. The members of the governing board
shall be elected at large or by trustee areas as designated in the
proposal for unification and shall serve four-year terms of office.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), and except as provided in
this subdivision and Section 5018, the governing board of an
elementary school district other than a union or joint union
elementary school district shall consist of three members selected at
large from the territory comprising the district. Whenever, in any
such elementary school district the average daily attendance during
the preceding fiscal year is 300 or more, the procedures prescribed
by Section 5018 shall be undertaken.
(d) (1) (A) There may be submitted to the governing board of a
school district maintaining one or more high schools a pupil petition
requesting the governing board to appoint one or more nonvoting
pupil members to the board pursuant to this section.
(B) There may also be submitted to the governing board of a school
district maintaining one or more high schools a pupil petition
requesting the governing board to allow preferential voting for the
pupil member or members of the board. This request may be made in the
original petition for pupil representation on the board or in a
separate petition after a pupil member or members have been appointed
to the board.
(2) Whether for pupil representation or for preferential voting
for the pupil member or members, the petition shall contain the
signatures of either (A) not less than 500 pupils regularly enrolled
in high schools of the district, or (B) not less than 10 percent of
the number of pupils regularly enrolled in high schools of the
district, whichever is less. Each fiscal year, and within 60 days of
receipt of a petition for pupil representation, or at its next
regularly scheduled meeting if no meeting is held within those 60
days, the governing board of a school district shall order the
inclusion within the membership of the governing board, in addition
to the number of members otherwise prescribed, at least one nonvoting
pupil member. The governing board may order the inclusion of more
than one nonvoting pupil member.
(3) Upon receipt of a petition for pupil representation, the
governing board of a school district shall, commencing July 1, 1976,
and each year thereafter, order the inclusion within the membership
of the governing board, in addition to the number of members
otherwise prescribed, at least one nonvoting pupil member. The
governing board may order the inclusion of more than one nonvoting
pupil member.
(4) (A) Upon receipt of a petition for preferential voting for the
pupil member or members, the governing board of the school district
shall allow preferential voting for the pupil member or members of
the governing board.
(B) Preferential voting, as used in this section, means a formal
expression of opinion that is recorded in the minutes and cast before
the official vote of the governing board of the school district. A
preferential vote shall not serve in determining the final numerical
outcome of a vote. No preferential vote shall be solicited on matters
subject to closed session discussion.
(5) The governing board of the school district may adopt a
resolution authorizing the nonvoting or preferential voting pupil
member or members to make motions that may be acted upon by the
governing board, except on matters dealing with employer-employee
relations pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of
Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(6) Each pupil member shall have the right to attend each and all
meetings of the governing board of the school district, except
executive sessions.
(7) Any pupil selected to serve as a nonvoting or preferential
voting member of the governing board of a school district shall be
enrolled in a high school of the district, may be less than 18 years
of age, and shall be chosen by the pupils enrolled in the high school
or high schools of the district in accordance with procedures
prescribed by the governing board. The term of a pupil member shall
be one year commencing on July 1 of each year.
(8) A nonvoting or preferential voting pupil member shall be
entitled to the mileage allowance to the same extent as regular
members, but is not entitled to the compensation prescribed by
Section 35120.
(9) A nonvoting or preferential voting pupil member shall be
seated with the members of the governing board of the school district
and shall be recognized as a full member of the board at the
meetings, including receiving all materials presented to the board
members and participating in the questioning of witnesses and the
discussion of issues.
(10) The nonvoting or preferential voting pupil member shall not
be included in determining the vote required to carry any measure
before the governing board of the school district.
(11) The nonvoting or preferential voting pupil member shall not
be liable for any acts of the governing board of the school district.
(12) A majority vote of all voting board members shall be required
to approve a motion to eliminate the nonvoting or preferential
voting pupil member position from the governing board of a school
district. The motion shall be listed as a public agenda item for a
meeting of the governing board prior to the motion being voted upon.