House Bill 442 Summary

• Requires all school board members to be elected at presidential elections (held every four years) rather than staggered elections, with members taking office on the first Monday of January following their election.

• Establishes four-year terms for all county board of education members, municipal separate school district trustees, consolidated school district trustees, and special municipal separate school district trustees (previously varied from two to six years).

• Implements a staggered election schedule beginning in 2016: members from election districts 1-2 elected in November 2016 for two-year terms expiring January 2019; members from districts 3-5 elected in 2016 for four-year terms expiring January 2021; subsequent elections held every four years in November.

• Adds educational requirement that all school board members must possess a higher education degree, including associate degrees or certificates from accredited community or junior colleges.

• Repeals multiple sections providing alternative appointment and election methods for school board members and consolidates vacancy-filling procedures to appointment by remaining board members with elections held at the next scheduled election.