The general management and control of the public schools and
of the buildings and property pertaining thereto shall be vested in
a Board of Education consisting of seven members, elected by the qualified
voters of the City for three year terms. There shall be one school
Board member elected from each ward, and one member elected at large.
The members of the present Board of Education shall continue in office
until their respective terms expire, or until their successors are
elected and qualified.
Each year, at the first official Board meeting held after the
annual election, the school board shall elect a Chairperson and a
Vice Chairperson from among its members. The Chairperson and the Vice
Chairperson shall have all voting privileges. The Chairperson shall
be an ex officio member of all school Board committees.
At the November 1996 election, Wards Four (4) and Five (5) shall
elect members; at the November 1997 election, the City shall elect
the one member at large and Wards Six (6) and One (1) shall elect
members; and at the November 1998 election, Wards Two (2) and Three
(3) shall elect members. In a biennial election year, the City Clerk
shall prepare a separate municipal ballot which shall be used in elections
for members of the Board of Education. The Board of Education shall
have the power and perform all the duties of and be subject to the
liabilities pertaining to school boards of towns, except as otherwise
provided by law. All bills, notes and demands made or contracted for
school purposes shall be paid from the city treasury. Members of the
Board shall receive such compensation as the City Council shall determine.
All members of the Board of Education shall be nominated and elected in accordance with the nonpartisan election procedures set forth in Article II of this Charter. (Amended by referendum
11-4-2003, 1,324 yes, 423 no)
Any vacancies occurring on the Board of Education shall be filled
in accordance with RSA 671:33. (Amended by referendum 11-7-1995,
1,739 yes, 1346 no)
