Article 1. Membership of California Education Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 21. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 1.

Within 15 days after the action necessary for the formation of any elementary school district or high school district is completed, the county superintendent of schools shall appoint an interim governing board. Within 15 days after the action necessary for the formation of any joint or joint union elementary school or high school district is completed, the county superintendent of schools having jurisdiction over the district shall appoint a majority of the members of an interim governing board. If the new district is in two counties, the other county superintendent shall appoint the rest of the interim governing board members within such 15-day period. If the new district is in more than two counties, the other county superintendents shall appoint the rest of the interim governing board members within such 15-day period as may be agreed upon by them. If they cannot agree within such 15-day period, the county superintendent who appointed the majority of the interim governing board members shall appoint the rest of the members. The term of each governing board member so appointed shall expire on the April 1st following the election of the first elected governing board of the district. If a majority of the members of the interim governing board of the school district is not appointed and qualified within such 15-day period, the county superintendent of schools having the power to appoint the interim governing board, or a majority thereof, shall assume the powers and duties belonging to the governing board until a majority of the governing board is selected and qualified.

In newly formed unified school districts there shall be no interim governing board, but the county superintendent of schools having jurisdiction over the particular district shall call an election for the purpose of choosing the first governing board of the district. The election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, June, or November next succeeding the call. The first members of the governing board of the district shall take office on the day the canvass of the election is certified by the county superintendent of schools. The first meeting of the governing board shall be called by the county superintendent of schools not later than the third Monday following the election. The term of office of subsequent members of the board shall begin on April 1st following their election.

Within 20 days after the appointment or election of the interim or initial governing board of any newly formed district, the county superintendent of schools having jurisdiction over the district shall call a meeting of the board, by giving each member of the board at least 10 days' notice of such meeting by registered mail. At the meeting the board shall appoint such officers as boards of its class are required to appoint at annual meetings pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 35140) of Chapter 2 of this division, name the district pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 35000) of Chapter 1 of this part and may conduct or transact any other business relating to the affairs of the district which can properly be conducted or transacted at a regular meeting of the board.

In newly formed districts for which an interim governing board is appointed by the county superintendent of schools, a governing board member election shall be held:
  (a) When the action necessary for the formation of a new school district is completed on or before the first of January of any odd-numbered year, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of such year.
  (b) When the action necessary for the formation of a new school district is completed after the first of February of any year, whether even numbered or odd numbered, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of the next succeeding year. The terms of the members elected at the initial election shall begin on the first day of April, and the terms of their predecessors shall expire on the 31st day of March, following the election.

Subject to the procedures prescribed by Section 1302.2 of the Elections Code with respect to newly formed unified school districts, the majority of members of the first elected board of any newly formed school district, the members of which majority received the highest number of votes, shall serve until the first Friday in December of the second succeeding odd-numbered year. The other members' terms shall expire on the first Friday in December of the first succeeding odd-numbered year. All of these members shall continue in office until their successors are elected and qualified.

When a member of the governing board of a school district which is being reorganized and which will cease to exist takes office as a member of the initial or interim governing board of a newly formed school district, he or she shall cease to be a member of the governing board of the district being reorganized unless he or she elects to remain a member of that board. If the member does not elect to remain on the board of the district being reorganized, the county board of education shall then appoint another person who is eligible to serve on the governing board of the district being reorganized to the vacant position for the duration of the existence of the district being reorganized, but in no case for longer than 12 months.

(a) Any person, regardless of sex, who is 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the state, a resident of the school district, a registered voter, and who is not disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding a civil office, is eligible to be elected or appointed a member of a governing board of a school district without further qualifications.
  (b) (1) An employee of a school district may not be sworn into office as an elected or appointed member of that school district's governing board unless and until he or she resigns as an employee. If the employee does not resign, the employment will automatically terminate upon being sworn into office.
  (2) For any individual who is an employee of a school district and an elected or appointed member of that school district's governing board prior to January 1, 1992, this subdivision shall apply when he or she is reelected or reappointed, on or after January 1, 1992, as a member of the school district's governing board.
  (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing board of a school district may adopt or the residents of the school district may propose, by initiative, a proposal to limit or repeal a limit on the number of terms a member of the governing board of the school district may serve on the governing board of the school district. Any proposal to limit the number of terms a member of the governing board of the school district may serve on the governing board of the school district shall apply prospectively only and shall not become operative unless it is submitted to the electors of the school district at a regularly scheduled election and a majority of the votes cast on the question favor the adoption of the proposal.
  (d) (1) An initiative measure proposed pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be subject to the procedures set forth in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 9300) of Division 9 of the Elections Code.
  (2) A proposal submitted to the electors by the governing board pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be subject to the procedures set forth in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 9500) of Division 9 of the Elections Code.
  (e) A member of the governing board of a school district shall abstain from voting on personnel matters that uniquely affect a relative of the member but may vote on collective bargaining agreements and personnel matters that affect a class of employees to which the relative belongs. For purposes of this section, "relative" means an adult who is related to the person by blood or affinity within the third degree, as determined by the common law, or an individual in an adoptive relationship within the third degree.