Title 15.1 — Elementary and Secondary Education

The term of each elected member of a school board is three years, except when the member is completing the unexpired term of another. The term of office for a school board member begins at the annual meeting in July following the member's election and continues until a successor …

1. A school board by resolution may change the terms of office for its members from three to four years. The resolution must provide that upon the expiration of each member's current three-year term, the term of office for that position on the board will become four years. The re…

1. Except as provided in subsection 2: a. At least two members of a school board must be rural members if a district contains six or more sections of land, has a city within its boundaries, and a district population of two thousand or fewer. b. At least one member of a school boa…

1. The business manager of a school district shall notify the county superintendent that a vacancy exists on the school board. 2. The board of a school district shall fill by appointment or special election any vacant seat on the board. The term of an individual selected by appoi…

Each school board shall set a level of compensation for services payable to its members. In addition to compensation for services, each member may be reimbursed for all necessary meals and lodging and travel expenses actually incurred while engaged in official business of the boa…

Upon the filing of a petition under chapter 44-11 for removal by the governor, the governor, in consultation with the superintendent of public instruction, may suspend a member of a school board pending the results of an audit in accordance with section 54-10-15.

Unless otherwise provided by law, a school district election must be conducted and the votes must be canvassed in the same manner as in the election of county officers.

An individual seeking election to the board of a school district shall prepare and sign a document stating the individual's name and the position for which that individual is a candidate. A candidate shall also file a statement of interests as required by section 16.1-09-02. Whet…

Thirty days before the filing deadline for candidate names to be printed on the ballot, an official notice of this deadline must be published in the official newspaper of the city or county. At least fourteen days before the date of an annual or special school district election, …

A notice for the election of school board members must state the purpose for the election, the date of the election, and the time at which the polls will open and close.

1. At least forty days before the election, the business manager shall prepare and cause to be printed, or otherwise uniformly reproduced, an official ballot containing the names of all individuals who have indicated their intent to be candidates by meeting the provisions of sect…

The school board shall determine the time at which polls must open and close for school district elections. Polls may open at any time after seven a.m. and must be open by eleven a.m. Polls must remain open until seven p.m. and may remain open until eight p.m. In Fargo school dis…

1. At least thirty-five days prior to the annual election, the board of each school district shall designate one or more precincts for the election. The board shall arrange the precincts in a way that divides the electors of the district as equally as possible. 2. At least thirty…

Upon the closing of the polls, the judges shall count and canvass the votes for each office. At the conclusion of the canvass of votes on election night, the judges and clerks of the election shall sign the returns and file them with the business manager of the school district. H…

On the thirteenth day after the election, the school board shall meet to canvass all election returns and shall declare the result of an election and, in the case of a tie, within three days from the determination of a winner. However, if the election is held under an agreement w…

If the election results in a tie, the business manager of the district shall notify, in writing, the candidates between whom the tie exists. Within three days after the canvass of the election by the school board, at a time agreed upon by the candidates, the election must be deci…

Absentee ballots must be available in any school district election in accordance with chapter 16.1-07. Section 16.1-16-01 applies to school district elections, except: 1. The members of the school board not subject to a recount and not disqualified under subdivision c of subsecti…

Sections 16.1-08.1-03.3, 16.1-10-01, 16.1-10-06, 16.1-10-06.1, 16.1-10-07, 16.1-10-08, 16.1-13-22, 16.1-13-23, 16.1-13-30, 16.1-15-01, 16.1-15-04, and 16.1-16-04 apply to elections held under sections 15.1-09-09 and 15.1-09-11.

Election officials at school district elections are entitled to receive compensation as provided for election officials in section 16.1-05-05. The board of a school district holding the election shall provide for the compensation from school district funds.

A school district is responsible for the payment of all expenses incurred as a result of a school district election.

1. The board of a school district shall hold an election each year between April first and June thirtieth to fill all vacancies, including those caused by the expiration of terms of office. 2. Upon resolution of the school board, the annual election may be held in conjunction wit…

In addition to the annual election, a special election may be held at any time and for any lawful purpose, if approved by the school board.

If a school district election is held in conjunction with a primary election, the board of the school district may agree with the governing body of the county or counties in which the district is located to share election costs and responsibilities, including those associated wit…

An individual elected as a member of or appointed to a school board shall take and file with the school district business manager an affirmation or oath of office within ten days after receiving notice of the election or appointment and before commencing duties. If the individual…

Any member of a school board may administer an affirmation or oath of office required of school board members, required of school district personnel, or required in any school-related matter.

At the annual meeting, school board members shall elect from among themselves a president to serve for one year.

The president shall preside at all meetings of the school board, appoint all committees subject to approval by the board, provide authorization for the issuance of negotiable instruments, and perform other acts required by law. A vice president may be elected by the board to serv…

The board of a school district consists of the members elected according to the provisions of this chapter. A majority of the board constitutes a quorum. The agreement of a majority of those members present is necessary for the transaction of any business.

1. Each school board shall hold an initial meeting during the month of July following the annual election. The president of the school board shall select a meeting date that is convenient to the other board members and shall provide board members with written notice of the meetin…

Every two years, at the time of a school district's annual election of board members, the electors of the district shall determine whether a record of the board proceedings must be published in the official newspaper of the district. If a majority of the electors voting on the qu…

Within one year of assuming office, each newly elected school board member shall attend an inservice training workshop hosted by the North Dakota school boards association or its designee. The workshop must include presentations on the role of a school board member, the duties of…

The board of a school district may: 1. Establish a system of free public schools for all children of legal school age residing within the district. 2. Organize, establish, operate, and maintain elementary, middle, and high schools. 3. Have custody and control of all school distri…

1. The board of a school district may offer a signing bonus to an individual who: a. Is licensed by the education standards and practices board or approved by the education standards and practices board; b. Has signed a contract of employment in the school district; and c. Has ne…

A school board's right to reimburse teachers for the cost of continuing education activities undertaken in connection with the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 may not be contractually curtailed.

The board of a school district may provide a stipend to a student teacher assigned to a school in the district. 15.1-09-33.4. Student misconduct - Prohibition against participation in extracurricular activities. 1. The board of a school district may prohibit a student from partic…

The superintendent of public instruction, school districts, schools, school boards and individual school board members, governing boards and individual governing board members, administrators, principals, teachers, and any other school district employed personnel are immune from …

1. Except as provided in this section, the board of a school district may not enter a contract involving the expenditure of an aggregate amount greater than fifty thousand dollars unless the school board has given ten days' notice by publication in the official newspaper of the d…

At least once each year, the board of a school district shall publish in the official newspaper of the district information regarding the registration of vehicle fuel vendors and heating fuel vendors. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the board shall purchase vehicle …

Upon the conclusion of each school year, the board of a school district shall: 1. Prepare a report regarding the condition of all schools in the district, including their financial condition and the educational progress of students enrolled in each school; 2. Forward a copy of th…

1. A school board may not charge a fee for textbooks or other items necessary for completion of a specific course required for grade advancement or graduation. 2. A school board may: a. Require that a student pay a security deposit for the return of textbooks, materials, supplies…

Repealed by S.L. 2001, ch. 161, § 37.

Repealed by S.L. 2003, ch. 151, § 2.

1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board of a school district in this state may contract with the board of a school district in another state for the joint operation and maintenance of school facilities and for joint activities, if the districts are contiguous. To…

The boards of two or more school districts may contract to share levied taxes in all or a portion of their respective districts. The rate of taxes to be levied on any property in the joint taxing area or district is the rate of tax provided for in the contract, not exceeding any …

The board of a school district may offer and pay a reward to any person who furnishes information leading to the apprehension and conviction of one appropriating or destroying property or equipment belonging to the district.

Repealed by S.L. 2005, ch. 167, § 36.

The board of a school district may purchase a bus body, a chassis, or a complete bus, provided the body, chassis, or complete bus meets standards provided by section 39-21-27.1. A board may use money in its general fund to purchase a bus body, a chassis, or a complete bus on an i…

The board of a school district may make a schoolbus available to a nonprofit organization for use in conjunction with the organization's activities. The board shall negotiate the terms of usage with the organization. The terms must address rental charges and insurance coverage. T…

The board of a school district may lease for purchase, purchase, or construct a storage facility for schoolbuses upon advertised bids as provided in section 15.1-09-34. For these purposes, the board may use money in the district's general fund or building fund provided the money …

Repealed by S.L. 2007, ch. 163, § 57.