The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 16 : Education

Chapter 011 : UNION SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Subchapter 003 : UNIFIED UNION SCHOOL DISTRICTS

• § 729. Board members; term; conduct of meetings; quorum and voting; powers and duties

  (a) Members. Except as set forth in subchapter 2 (exploration, formation, and organization) of this chapter for initial members, each member of the board of a unified union school district shall:

  (1) be elected by the voters at a warned meeting of the unified union school district pursuant to sections 730 (nomination and election of unified union school district board members) and 737 (warnings of unified union school district meetings) of this title;

  (2) assume office upon election, except as provided in subdivision 737(f)(3) (warnings of unified union school district meetings) of this chapter; and

  (3) be sworn in before entering upon the duties of the office.

  (b) Term. A member elected at an annual meeting shall serve for a term of three years or until the member’s successor is elected and has taken the oath of office. A member elected at a special meeting shall serve for the balance of the term of office remaining.

  (c) Quorum. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section but notwithstanding any other provision of law, the concurrence of a majority of members present at a unified union school district board meeting shall be necessary and sufficient for board action; provided, however, the concurrence of more than a majority shall be necessary if required for a particular action by the voter-approved articles of agreement.

  (d) Weighted voting. If weighted voting is used to achieve constitutionally required proportionality for members elected under the “proportional to town population” model described in subdivisions 711(d)(1) (proposed unified union school district; proportional to town population) and 730(a)(1) (unified union school district; Australian ballot; proportional to town population) of this chapter, then a number of members of the board holding a majority of the total number of weighted votes shall constitute a quorum, and a majority of the weighted votes cast shall be necessary and sufficient for board action.

  (e) Board chair and board clerk. At the board meeting next following each annual district meeting, the unified union school district board shall elect one of its number to serve as the chair of the board and one other of its number to serve as the clerk of the board.

  (f) Powers, duties, and liabilities. The powers, duties, and liabilities of a unified union school district board, board chair, and board clerk shall be the same as those of a board, board chair, and board clerk of a town school district.

  (g) Minutes. The board clerk shall prepare minutes of the proceedings of the unified union school district board, unless the board votes to delegate those duties to another individual. The board clerk shall transmit the minutes and all other documents constituting the record of board proceedings to the clerk of the unified union school district, who shall be responsible for maintaining a permanent record of board proceedings. In the board clerk’s absence, another member of the school board shall assume the duties of the clerk.

  (h) Stipend. The board clerk may be paid upon order of the board. (Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.)