MS SB2095

Municipal separate school district trustees shall be elected from five special trustee election districts beginning with municipal elections in June 2017 and every four years thereafter, with members serving four-year terms instead of current appointment or varied election methods.

Special municipal separate school districts shall use the same election method as municipal separate school districts, with boards apportioning districts based on population and other factors.

Candidates for school board positions must file petitions with at least 50 qualified elector signatures (or 20% if fewer than 100 electors in the district) at least 60 days before elections, with a uniform signature requirement across all school board types.

All school superintendents shall be appointed by school boards beginning January 1, 2016, except in counties where the incumbent county superintendent serving July 1, 2014, chooses to seek reelection and is reelected; that office remains elective until the incumbent leaves or loses reelection.

Multiple sections establishing old methods for electing or appointing municipal school district trustees and county superintendents are repealed, along with provisions for county superintendent election referendums.