The City of Dover shall constitute a single municipal corporation with powers for municipal and school purposes, including all the powers of a school district conferred by law.
[Amended 9-5-1990, approved 11-6-1990 by election[1]; 8-9-2000, approved 11-7-2000 by election; 7-10-2002, approved 11-5-2002 by election; 10-3-2007, approved 11-6-2007 by election; 11-3-2015 by election; 11-2-2021 by election]
There shall be a School Board consisting of seven members, one member from each ward and one member elected at large. The term of office shall begin upon the member's election and making and subscription to the oath of office and end upon the election of the member's successor and the successor's making and subscription of oath of office. All School Board members shall be elected for terms of two years and shall take office on the first Monday in January following the election. In the event that the first Monday of January is a holiday, the organization meeting shall take place on the Tuesday immediately following the first Monday of January.
[1]
Editor's Note: All previous references to the "School Committee" shall now be referred to as the "School Board."
[Amended 10-3-2007, approved 11-6-2007 by election]
A. 
The members of the School Board shall meet on the first Monday of January following their election for the purpose of newly elected members taking their oaths, organizing for the ensuing year and adopting rules and regulations for the transaction of business.
B. 
A copy of such rules and regulations and any amendments thereto shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk and the office of the School Superintendent.
C. 
The School Board shall elect by ballot from their own number a Chair, a Vice Chair, and a Secretary. The Treasurer of the City of Dover shall be the Treasurer of the School Board, and all checks authorized by the School Board shall be issued by the Treasurer upon warrant certified by the School Board and countersigned by such member of the School Board as may be officially designated.
[Amended 8-26-1992, approved 11-3-1992 by election; 8-9-1995, approved 11-7-1995 by election; 8-23-2001, approved 11-6-2001 by election;[1] 10-3-2007, approved 11-6-2007 by election; 11-3-2015 by election; 11-2-2021 by election]
To be qualified to be a candidate for election as School Board Member, a person must be a duly qualified voter in the city and a resident of the city for at least one year immediately preceding the election. To be a candidate for election as a School Board member from a Ward, in addition to the aforementioned qualifications, a person must be a resident of the ward from which they are elected. In the event that the ward boundaries are redistricted or amended at any time during their term of office or in conjunction with the Municipal Election which may result in removing them from said ward, the elected candidates shall be allowed to serve out their term as the representative of the Ward to which they are elected.
[1]
Editor's Note: Consecutive term limitations language was removed due to a New Hampshire Supreme Court decision in Hooksett v. Baines (December 2002).
[Amended 9-5-1990, approved 11-6-1990 by election; 8-9-1995, approved 11-7-1995 by election; 10-3-2007, approved 11-8-2007 by election; 11-2-2021 by election]
A vacancy shall exist when any member dies, resigns, is removed for just cause, is permanently physically or mentally incapacitated to the degree they are unable to perform their duties, are judicially declared to be mentally incompetent or, in those instances where residence in the city or in one of its several wards is initially required, they move from the city or ward and establish their residence in some other place. If a vacancy occurs on the School Board, the vacancy shall be filled by the School Board pursuant to RSA 671:33.
[Amended 11-5-2005 by election]
School Board members shall receive a salary in the same amounts as city councilors, plus reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their work. The School Board Chair shall receive an additional sum in the same amount as the additional sum paid the Mayor.