§ 15.1-09-01 — School board membership - Size and term adjustments

1. The board of a school district must be composed of five, seven, or nine members.
2. The size of a school board may be increased to seven or nine members or decreased
to seven or five members if a petition is signed by qualified electors of the school
district equal in number to at least one-third of those who voted at the most recent
annual school district election and the change is approved by a majority of the
qualified electors of the school district voting on the question at a special election
called for that purpose.
3. If a majority of the qualified voters in a school district elect to increase the size of the
school board, the additional members must be elected to the board at the next annual
school district election in the same manner as other board members.
a. If the total number of board members after approval of the increase is seven, the
terms of three members extend until the first annual election, the terms of two
members extend until the second annual election, and the terms of the remaining
two members extend until the third annual election.
b. If the total number of board members after approval of the increase is nine, the
terms of three members extend until the first annual election, the terms of three
members extend until the second annual election, and the terms of the remaining
three members extend until the third annual election.
c. The length of the terms specified in this subsection must be determined by lot.
d. All board members shall serve for the terms specified in this subsection and until
their successors are elected and qualified.
e. The length of any term in existence before the increase in board membership and
held by a board member who is duly qualified may not be modified.
f. Terms subsequent to the first term are for the normal period of three years and
extend until a successor is elected and qualified.
4. The voters of a school district shall elect school board members at large. If, however,
the district has been reorganized, board members may be elected at large, by
geographical area, or at large by geographical area.
5. An election on a reorganization proposal takes the place of the petition and election
requirements of this section. Approval of the reorganization proposal has the same
effect as if the approval were by the election provided for in this section.
6. If the qualified electors of a district approve a reduction in the size of the school board,
the excess number of members will serve out existing terms until the number
approved by the electors has been reached.
7. If the board of a school district has elected to convert its members' terms to four years
and has also increased the number of its board members, the board by lot or by some
other random selection method shall provide for a combination of initial terms of office
not to exceed four years for the new members. The combination must equalize to the
greatest extent possible the number and length of terms for old board members and
for new members to be elected during the next three election years. The members'
terms must be staggered and must expire in even-numbered years.