AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 AND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

Stronger and faster school board vetting

When a school board seat becomes vacant, the remaining members appoint someone only for the rest of the fiscal year. The seat then appears on the next regular school board ballot to finish the term. Any appointee must meet the same rules as an elected member, including a criminal background check, and the Commissioner of Elections must confirm the person is qualified before any appointment. After criminal and child‑protection checks are done, the State Bureau of Identification and the Department for Children, Youth and Their Families must send results within 15 days of a valid request. Results go to the right official: the Governor (for State Board or vo‑tech seats), the Commissioner of Elections (for candidates and interim appointees), a district superintendent (for district board members), or a charter school board (for charter boards).