NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1973 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 836

HOUSE BILL 1414

 

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE COLUMBUS COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CREATE DISTRICTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING MEMBERS TO THE COLUMBUS COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1. The Columbus County Board of Education is hereby authorized to create five residence districts in Columbus County, excluding that area embraced within the Whiteville School Administrative Unit, for the purpose of electing members of the County Board of Education as herein provided.

The Board shall first adopt a resolution of intent which shall (1) describe the five residence districts to be created; (2) state that one member of the County Board of Education will be elected from each of the districts, and shall be elected by the voters of the entire county, excluding those residing in the Whiteville School Administrative Unit; and (3) set a date for a public hearing at which any person may be heard.

Sec. 2. The resolution of intent and a notice of the public hearing shall be published at least once a week for two weeks prior to the date set for the public hearing.  After the public hearing, the County Board of Education may adopt a resolution finding that it is in the best interest of the public schools of the county to create residence districts for the purpose of electing members of the County Board of Education.  If the resolution is adopted it shall describe the residence districts, which need not be those described in the resolution of intent, and shall state that one member from each of the districts shall be elected to the Columbus County Board of Education by the qualified voters of the county, excluding those residing in the Whiteville School Administrative Unit.

Sec. 3. The resolution shall not be effective unless adopted 30 days prior to the last day that Notice of Candidacy must be filed for candidates desiring to run in the Primary election. Provided that if the resolution is adopted by March 15, 1974, the candidates shall be permitted to file until 12:00 noon on April 1, 1974, thereafter the first sentence shall control. The resolution shall be filed with the County Board of Elections and the State Board of Elections, and shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county at least once a week for two weeks immediately after its adoption.

Sec. 4. Upon the adoption of the resolution as provided herein, one member of the Columbus County Board of Education shall be elected from each of the five districts described in the resolution.  Only qualified voters who reside in the district shall be eligible to office.  In the election, the candidate from each district receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected.  The candidates shall be elected by the voters of the entire county, excluding those residing in the Whiteville School Administrative Unit.  Vacancies occurring for any reason shall be filled by the appointment of a qualified voter residing in the district where the vacancy occurred.  Provided, that the terms of office of the incumbent members of the Board of Education shall not be terminated by this act.

Sec. 5. This act shall be effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 5th day of February, 1974.