The City of Franklin shall constitute a separate school district.
[Amended by Acts 1982, ch. 95, § 1; Acts 1997, ch. 275, § 1]
The school board shall consist of seven members who shall be qualified voters of the city and not members of the city council. One member shall be selected from each of the six wards in the city and one member shall be selected from the city at large.
[Amended by Acts 1974, ch. 17, § 1; Acts 1982, ch. 95, § 1; Acts 1997, ch. 275, § 1; Acts 2011, ch. 576]
At its first regular meeting in June, 1983, and every year thereafter, at its first regular June meeting, the council shall appoint one (1) or more members for a term of three (3) years, whose term or terms shall begin July 1, following his, her or their appointment. Vacancies shall be filled by the council for any unexpired term. A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until his or her successor has been appointed.
Members shall be appointed on a 2-2-3 year rotation, as follows: Wards 2 and 5 shall be appointed in the same rotation; Wards 1 and 3 shall be appointed in the same rotation; and Wards 4 and 6 and the member appointed at large shall be appointed in the same rotation. To accomplish this rotation, beginning with terms starting July 1, 2011, council will appoint members in Ward 3 to a three year term ending June 30, 2014, and thereafter to 3 year terms unless filling an unexpired term.
Beginning with terms starting July 1, 2012, council will appoint members in Ward 1 to a two year term ending June 30, 2014, and thereafter to 3 year terms unless filling an unexpired term; council will appoint members in Ward 2 to a one year term ending June 30, 2013, and thereafter to 3 year terms unless filling an unexpired term; council will appoint members in Wards 4 and 6 and the at large member to three year terms ending June 30, 2015, and thereafter to 3 year terms unless filling an unexpired term.
Beginning with terms starting July 1, 2013, council will appoint members in Ward 5 to a three year term ending June 30, 2016, and thereafter to 3 year terms unless filling an unexpired term.
In the event that an appointment of a member in the future results in a rotation other than the 2-2-3 rotation with Wards 1 and 3 being appointed together, Wards 2 and 5 being appointed together, and Wards 4 and 6 and the at large member being appointed together then council shall be authorized to make an appointment for less than a 3 year term the next time it is appropriate to reestablish the 2-2-3 rotation.
[Amended by Acts 1982, ch. 95, § 1; Acts 1986, ch. 20, § 1; Acts 2004, ch. 32, § 1]
The compensation to be paid to each member shall be fixed by a majority vote of the council, provided that the annual compensation to paid to any member shall not exceed the sum of four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) for his or her services as such, and the annual compensation to be paid to the chairman of the school board shall not exceed the sun of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for his or her services as such.
The establishment, maintenance and operation of a system of free public schools within the City of Franklin shall be under the control of the school board, appointed by the city council in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, the Constitution of Virginia, the laws of the commonwealth, the regulations of the state board of education; and said board shall have all the rights, privileges, powers, and duties granted or empowered by the said provisions, constitution, laws, and regulations, including but not limited to the right to enter into contractual relationships with neighboring political subdivisions relating to the education of the school population of such neighboring political subdivisions and relating to the education of the school population of the city; and nothing in this Charter shall negate any rights, privileges, powers, or duties granted or empowered to the school board by said provisions, constitution, laws, and regulations; and neither shall the school board have any such rights, privileges, powers, and duties not provided by said provisions, constitution, laws and regulations.